No one can condone the violent actions and civil unrest happening in Baltimore, which has forced the city to activate the National Guard. The death of Freddie Gray—who appears to have died from a broken neck that was sustained while in police custody—has angered citizens because it represents the city’s history of poor police-community relations. Baltimore is just the most current example of similar anger being felt and expressed in cities across the country.
Many people watching the turmoil in Baltimore may be in disbelief that these citizens (largely young kids) are literally burning down their own community. To many of us, this scenario just doesn’t make sense. Unfortunately, the real issues in Baltimore are being overlooked because all the public can see is the violence and rage happening on the streets. This rage is being directed at the local and state agencies that are supposed to protect and serve its citizens.
This anger has been building for many years in Baltimore. There are known issues in the Baltimore Police Department. In October 2014, the US Justice Department began its own investigation of the department, months before the Freddie Gray incident.
Read the complete report here.
