{"id":15047,"date":"2015-04-27T22:45:33","date_gmt":"2015-04-28T02:45:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nationalcenter.org\/?p=15047"},"modified":"2017-09-18T15:26:56","modified_gmt":"2017-09-18T19:26:56","slug":"black-conservatives-on-baltimore-looting-violence-felons-dont-need-space-to-destroy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nationalcenter.org\/ncppr\/2015\/04\/27\/black-conservatives-on-baltimore-looting-violence-felons-dont-need-space-to-destroy\/","title":{"rendered":"Black Conservatives on Baltimore Looting, Violence: \u201cFelons Don\u2019t Need \u2018Space to Destroy\u2019\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"
With the nation captivated by the rioting in Baltimore and the initial shocking pro-rioter statement of the city\u2019s mayor, members of the National Center\u2019s Project 21<\/a> black leadership network are speaking out about this civic crisis.<\/p>\n Violence there was sparked by the death of Freddie Gray, a young black man with a long string of prior arrests, while Gray was in police custody.\u00a0 It brought the current trend of anti-police tensions to Baltimore. \u00a0As opposed to most other recent incidents reported in the mainstream media, this time the heightened emotions led to attacks on police and innocent bystanders, property damage and looting.<\/p>\n What really didn\u2019t seem to help things at all was a statement essentially endorsing mayhem<\/a> that was made by Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.\u00a0 At a press conference, she said:<\/p>\n I\u2019ve made it very clear that I work with the police, and instructed them to do everything that they could to make sure that the protesters could exercise their right to free speech. \u00a0It\u2019s a very delicate balancing act because while we tried to make sure they were protected from the cars and the other things that were going on, we gave those who wished to destroy space to do that, as well. \u00a0And we worked very hard to keep that balance and to put ourselves in the best position to deescalate. \u00a0And that\u2019s what you saw.<\/p>\n Now, with spread of horrific violence in the city she is charged with leading, she\u2019s tried to walk back<\/a> the comment. \u00a0She is presiding<\/a> over a nightly curfew (starting on Tuesday!), cancelled baseball games and school trips and National Guard involvement.<\/p>\n Project 21 Co-Chairman Horace Cooper<\/a>, a legal commentator and former professor of constitutional law, said:<\/p>\n Felons don\u2019t need \u201cspace to destroy\u201d<\/p>\n Criminals and looters don\u2019t need an excuse to destroy property and to engage in mayhem.\u00a0 They don\u2019t prey on the rest of us because of perceived societal injustice.\u00a0 They do so because they are lawless.\u00a0 It\u2019s incumbent upon our elected officials, including the mayor of Baltimore, to stand with those in her city who respect order and safety \u2014 not take actions which sanction criminal acts.<\/p>\n Unfortunately that what she\u2019s done with her misguided rhetoric.<\/p>\n And, as all the nation can see, tonight\u2019s activities clearly show the need that all Americans \u2014 regardless of color \u2014 have for law enforcement.\u00a0\u00a0 I call upon Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake to switch sides and join with law-abiding citizens against the street thugs who make life miserable for inner city residents all over Baltimore.<\/p>\n Bishop Council Nedd II<\/a><\/a>, a Project 21 member and rector of St. Alban\u2019s Anglican Church in central Pennsylvania, added:<\/p>\n The riots in Baltimore are a beast of the Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake\u2019s own making.<\/p>\n Giving space to those who wish \u201cto destroy\u201d is not a responsible statement from a mayor and chief executive.\u00a0\u00a0 In one statement, Mayor Rawlings-Blake effectively gave disgruntled youth an excuse to riot and hamstrung the ability of the police to respond.<\/p>\n I come from a family of police officers.\u00a0 My father and brother were both police officers in Washington, D.C.\u00a0 I had several uncles who also served as police officers, as well as two of my closest friends.\u00a0 While I have never served in law enforcement, my comments are not being made totally void of some insight.<\/p>\n Riots are interesting things.\u00a0 You have people drawn to those situations for a variety of reasons.\u00a0 There are those who are interested in perpetrating violence and those who are merely interested in watching and observing the goings-on.\u00a0 As untenable of a situation as it is, it unfortunately falls on police officers to use their discernment and training to determine the intent of the groups and individuals.<\/p>\n Rioters throwing rocks and bricks at police officers should never be tolerated.\u00a0 However, under no circumstances do police officers have the luxury of throwing the rocks and bricks back indiscriminately into the crowds.<\/p>\n