Baltimore Riots Ensue After Freddie Gray’s Funeral

Baltimore Riots Ensue After Freddie Gray’s Funeral

Monday, April 27, 2015 marked a very dramatic night in Baltimore, Maryland. Earlier in the morning Freddie Gray’s funeral took place. Gray had been arrested on April 12, and brutally injured while in police custody. He suffered severe injuries to his spine and larynx before he fell into a coma and died a week later.

Gray being a young African-American male adds to the list of similar men who have been killed by police officers, causing a lot of unrest all over the country.

Hours after the funeral riots began all over Baltimore, pharmacies were torched, police cars were set on fire and bricks were thrown at officers reported The Associated Press.

According to Townhall, Attorney General Loretta Lynch, just four days on the job released this statement about the riots,

“I condemn the senseless acts of violence by some individuals in Baltimore that have resulted in harm to law enforcement officers, destruction of property and a shattering of the peace in the city of Baltimore. Those who commit violent actions, ostensibly in protest of the death of Freddie Gray, do a disservice to his family, to his loved ones, and to legitimate peaceful protestors who are working to improve their community for all its residents.”

Lynch also encouraged the Baltimore community to practice nonviolence as she does her best with other leaders to ensure civil rights for the people of Baltimore. She promised, “I will bring the full resources of the Department of Justice to bear in protecting those under threat, investigating wrongdoing, and securing an end to violence.”

Baltimore City Council Member, Brandon Scott, believes that the riots were triggered by “A long, long, longstanding issue with young African-Americans,” reported CNN.

He added, “We’re talking about years and decades of mistrust, of misfortune, of despair that it’s just coming out in anger. No, it is not right for them to burn down their own city. But that is what’s coming out of these young people.”

Many, however, were embarrassed by the behavior which was exhibited last night and showed up this morning to clean up the mess which was made last night. Laquicha Harper, a 30-year-old resident of Baltimore had this to say, “I understand that everybody is upset, I understand that tension is brewing … I’m here, I get it. But there are better ways that we can handle our frustration. And they can’t hear us when we’re behaving this way.”