This is some fucked up shit. I’ve been live tweeting all not and will continue for a while. The mayor and the governor is a fucking idiot. “We gave those who had wish to destroy space to do that.” Then tonight she was all “Don’t get it twisted.” Cunt satchel PLEASE We heard what you said.
We see what you plan is doing. We see you keeping the police from doing their job. As I am typing the NATIONAL GUARD is arriving now so that this cunt satchel can’t stop the enforcement of law. This is disgraceful. The LEO has not been allowed to arrest anyone. The number of injured police is on par with the number of people arrested.
And for the love of GOD if you need to steal toilet paper. Steal Charmin!
Thank you. That is exactly what she is. And an incompetent one at that.
Since we have moved the discussion to a new thread, I wanted to repost the MLK quote that I found thought provoking, if that’s ok.
“It is not enough for me to stand before you tonight and condemn riots. It would be morally irresponsible for me to do that without, at the same time, condemning the contingent, intolerable conditions that exist in our society. These conditions are the things that cause individuals to feel that they have no other alternative than to engage in violent rebellions to get attention. And I must say tonight that a riot is the language of the unheard.”
So many poor and ravaged neighborhoods in Baltimore, with little hope for change or options. I hope that after this, some smart and bold leaders can emerge and tackle these issues head on.
As it is, too many Baltimore city administrations have been at the least incompetent, at the worst woefully corrupt. The Wire was on point.
The Wire was brilliant. Probably the best series ever. I still think of Dukie and my heart feels heavy. Those kids… God. Not a chance unless they just happened to get very lucky.
I use to live in DC. I dated a guy who lived right outside of Baltimore, so I have spent some time there. This was many years ago (late 80’s). I just remember the harbor mostly, but I remember feeling very unsettled there. There seemed to be danger lurking everywhere (all those vacant row houses freaked my anxious ass out).
God help Baltimore tonight and this week. Our nation is in trouble. What the fuck can we do? So many people hate cops now. That scares me… We need cops. We need government to restore order… It feels rather hopeless. I sound like an old lady… Ugh.
You don’t sound like an old lady at all.
Baltimore was on the upswing in some sections since you were here, and rows of houses have been razed. Fells Point and the area around the stadium and the Harbor, et al, are like Disneyland in comparison to other areas of the city. Thing is in Baltimore, you can make one wrong turn and end up in a really shitty place really quickly.
I agree with all you posted and there is NOTHING funny about this whole flipping mess, but I can’t help but smile (hell out and out laugh) at YOU being wonderful you with the whole ‘at least steal Charman” line. You are spot on about so many things. As 4th generation of cops/fire fighters I cringe when I see what happens when these thugs take to the streets and our loved ones have to go ‘keep the peace’. What a joke that is with that mayor and governor. I still can’t believe how they handled this.
As a fellow poor person, I’d like to point out that Hispanics are profiled. Meth heads are profiled..
I’ve heard gunshots in my neighborhood tonight. It happens a lot here.
But no one is burning down the local CVS over it. That moronic mayor in her own stupidity is showing what would happen if we had no cops at all. And I can tell you they are pretty bad here too when you call. I made the mistake of being burglarized between shifts and being threatened by the 911 lady for calling 3 times in 30 minutes because I had no idea if there was a killer in my house.
I apologized to the cop for some of the disarray saying that was not the burglar.. and he said “I know” and this is a shitty neighborhood what did you expect more or less.
On Tue, Apr 28, 2015 at 12:33 AM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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What is up with that in Atlanta? My neighbor’s alarm was going off for over half an hour and I saw a strange car leaving her house. I called the police and got FINED for doing so.
I watched the action for many hours yesterday as Baltimore burned. I once watched Watts burn and that place is still recovering all these years later. The criminals doing this damage aren’t interested civil rights, don’t even know what that means. They are greedy, self-entitled brats who look for any excuse to destroy and steal. They have set the true need for equality and fair treatment back years in their frenzied desire to act out and do harm. They burn down the businesses of hard working people from their own neighborhoods leaving them with nothing but empty shells and years of hard work lost. It is not only up to law enforcement to stop them it is up to their parents to control them. The deaths of young black men by 1% of police in this country is tragic and needs to stop, of that there is no dispute. The horrible thing is that the deaths of these people lose all meaning when criminals come in and turn everything into chaos and make everything about themselves. They dishonor the dead and the families of the wrongfully murdered. The Mayor of Baltimore should resign immediately for allowing this to happen. She knew that trouble was coming and ignored it burying her head in the sand. She is a travesty and a coward…she was a huge part of the problem and refuses to admit it. This is grim and sad and heartless. I no longer recognize this country and feel like I have time traveled back to the late 60’s when many cities were burning. Has no one grown or learned? Has no progress been made since then? There is a quote that I can only paraphrase, ‘If you don’t learn from history you are doomed to repeat it.’ Thank you for covering this Tamara…it will continue if we don’t wake up.
Did you post anything when Tamir Rice was murdered by an incompetent cop or Walter Scott shot in the back as he posed no threat, or the man in Wal-Mart who was murdered for holding a WAL-MART gun which isn’t even illegal in that state. Do you post white ppl rioting when winning a baseball game? Oh my bad, the phrase is “getting rowdy” when they aren’t black & not the victims of daily harassment & murder.
Hmm, but when it’s time to Moralize though here comes your opinion. Way to participate in civic duties by being a judgy moralizing couch spectator.
Lovejoy, have you ever taken a statistics class? Baltimore has had 1152 murders since 2010. 31 people have died after police encounters. The cause of death has included heart attack, OD, gun shot ,etc. 21 were minorities. Baltimore is 60% black and I have no idea how many identify as hispanic/asian/other. One would reach the conclusion that blacks have no higher death rate after police interaction than any other group. All this is meaningless but so was your comment on Walter Scott, the officer is in jail charged with murder. Charleston did not riot. I am not assuming this is all just bullshit like Micheal Brown “hands up”, I am waiting on the evidence. If the officers were responsible for his death,so be it. None of that excuses burning a city, destroying your tax base and exalting the Bloods and Crips to social activists. A cynic might say that they had a vested interest in business as usual and a curtail on police presence would benefit future profits.
Good job defending the cops photo op. to validate severing a human beings spine, crushing his larynx, and dragging him through the street. The question we all know the answer to remains: where are the post and VITRIOL and MORALISM on the victims of police abuse and murder before the riots? I’m sorry you guys feelings are hurt by all the poor businesses being ruined and cops having (gasp) rocks thrown at them as a reaction to the cops getting away with murdering citizens!
@LoveJoy02 wow you have some anger. How do you address the 38 police officers killed in the line of duty so far in 2015 in the US? Or the 127 officers killed in the line of duty in 2014. 2013-114 killed in the line of duty. Do those lives not matter? Not being sarcastic. Interested in your response.
Always disappointed when a woman leader is so wrong. She’s going to be asked to resign. We all saw what she said, and her backtracking. Not to mention that with notice of the protest and tensions the way they are, Baltimore should have anticipated the worst and prepared for it. It seems there were plenty of those who only wanted to peacefully protest. Sadly, we can’t focus on the issue, we are steered to focus on dumb shits stealing TP and make up. Oh, and Don Lemon is pathetic. Just an all around piss poor day.
I usually don’t care for Don but he did seem to give Larry and the Mayor hard questions and did not back down. He must have asked those two three times why the Mayor didn’t act sooner and shouldn’t they have acted sooner and what they would have done differently. Neither could answer any time he asked and asked again. It was like a SNL skit!
That photo made me laugh! Fab.
Hmmm…this guy was like I’m gonna riot & loot me some TP damn it
I must say in his defense, he bagged his items and only took what he needed. TP!
On Tue, Apr 28, 2015 at 1:06 AM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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It’s sad that I witnessed one rioter using TP as kindling, I hope that man in the picture really need it for hygienic reasons.
The mayor is in way over her head. I think the governor is doing what he can. He can’t do anything until the mayor asks for help. I caught his comment that he was relieved when the mayor FINALLY asked for the national guard, and the request was approved in 30 seconds. Finally? No kidding!
Please CNN give us someone other than Dan Lemon to cover this. How is he still employed at CNN? He is such a light weight! I want to cry every time they show the pastor of the southern baptist church that had their church and under-construction community center torched. Good luck getting corporate funds for another project any time soon. So unfair to all those people in need 🙁
And that photo! Talk about a picture being worth a thousand words. How exactly does that honor Gray?
This just mob mentality! The poor family. Could they have one day to bury their love one? If these “protesters” really cared about the injustice of the police treatment of Freddy Grey they should of showed some respect to his family. And don’t tell me this is a reaction to the injustice of minorities, the people who care are not burning down the CVS, burning police cars, assaulting police officers and cutting fire hoses. These are a bunch of young people who think rioting “is the thing to do” and gang/criminals/deliquents. It makes a mockery out of people truly working for social change. Ok I vented now whoever wants to attacks me, you have the floor.
Blah I am screaming at my tv!!! This is crazy town
While watching CNN, I saw a statement by Grey’s mother condemning the rioting, looting, and burning of the city as not the way she wanted her son remembered. If even the family members are calling for others to stop the violence, then why are people doing it other than as a free pass for illegal activity? The family members are asking for an investigation in the death of Grey and that the appropriate action be taken. They are not requesting that their neighbors and the citizens of Baltimore destroy the city nor the violence associated with it.
No attack from me. I am so sick of the rioting and looting. If you want to make changes, protest. But I’m sick and tired of punks acting out like spoiled 3 year olds having a tantrum because mommy won’t give them a cookie. Grow the fuck up, stop acting like the stereotype that everyone is protesting against. Grow a backbone, and show a little self respect! Jesus!
You got that right . It began with bunch of high schoolers as school was dismissed for the day. A bunch of piss and vinegar hoodlums whose frontal lobe hasn’t even finished developing, if they develop at all in some of them. That poor family that has lost a son and brother, I’m so sad for their loss.
These people are doing their version of a purge and it is horrifying. The first stores they hit were for drugs, booze and then money not caring that the liquor store and the check cashing store were locally owned. Nothing like getting your buzz on right before you set out to BBQ the city.
My daughters Nat Guard unit has been activated to go in. I’m not going to apologize for saying I don’t want her there, I’m so scared. That’s my baby. She has had to leave her 5 year old. I will stay up all night looking at the tv needing to see that she and her unit are going to be okay. The stupid crap we’re seeing in that city I hope and pray will quickly be subdued . I am proud of her and all in her unit they are well trained and that’s giving me comfort to know she has been given tools to deal with this. God please let this end soon.
I will be praying for your daughter as well as all of the deployed National Guardsmen/women that have to be involved in this mess. I don’t blame you one bit for wishing that she wasn’t going and I’m surprised that your words weren’t screaming even louder off the page, mine would read as a crazy woman, yours show your class! God bless your family.
Prayers for your daughter and Baltimore….
No attack from me Angel. I agree with you. The family is grieving as they watch their neighborhood burn down and none of it has anything to do with their dead son. This has to compound the horror that they are feeling.
Disgusting and disgraceful and embarrassing just wtf Is going on in the world???? I have been called a racist, ok, call me that, matters not, but who in the hell thinks it’s ok to burn and steal and destroy and hurt people? If that makes me a racist because I “could never ever understand ” then so be it. Idiots in charge, #shameful
I take that back, I’m not a racist at all. I would’ve stood there with the Islamic group who refused to fight but peacefully protested, that was hours ago but whatever, I would’ve stood shoulder to shoulder with them to get change. I want to know why Obama hasn’t spoken out about this??? Is he condoning this? What did LVP say? It’s the silence of your friends that speaks louder??? Is he thinking this is ok to do????
President Obama did speak about it on Tuesday.
First of all, I’m going to agree with you on the fucking incompetent cunt mayor. She totally lied with her saying tonight that she didn’t say to destroy things. I heard it when she said it earlier today and I was watching live when she made that comment tonight. Nobody twisted your words Bitch!!! But I’m going to defend my Governor. It is her job to tell the Governor that Baltimore needed help. It is Baltimore city’s jurisdiction and they are supposed to be in control. He needed to be invited to the party basically and as soon as he was, he declared it a state of emergency. I believe he is on the ball but he has only been on the job for 3 months so this is his first high energy conflict and was doing things by the book, letting her make the call.
I live right outside of the city. I hate the city because of all the crime. Look up the crime rates, it’s crazy. We rarely go into the city, twice a year to the Aquarium and to Port Discovery for the kids. There are things I’d like to experience here but we can’t cause even before all this started, we don’t come here cause it’s unsafe. They did an interview with a kid earlier who was talking about what was happening and he basically said this is why we can’t have nice things. It’s so true!!!!
I sat here crying tonight watching all of the looting and stolen vehicles. I don’t get why the police are doing nothing!!! It’s disgusting. I’m so torn. I like to think of myself as a rational, loving person to all races(I make jokes here and there but I do not hate on any one race) but this is all making me hate these people for the destruction they are doing and it is so hard to take the color of their skin out of the equation. They are harming white reporters, our police officers and our firemen. They are destroying their own community which just shows how assanine this all is. I know in my heart that not all black people are like these thugs, I wouldn’t call myself a racist but the TV is thick with only black people acting like animals and I feel like it’s making black people look bad and I despise these people. How do I seperate the color from the chaos? I hate that I’m even thinking this way.
I think I just need to take a step back and not watch anymore. I don’t pray, but Baltimore, every part of you, the blacks, whites, the polish and greek communities, the small businesses, anyone that has been hurt by this, you are on my mind and I hope we can heal you all and get justice for the wrongs against you all at some point so this doesn’t need to happen again.
And one more thing, Freddie Gray’s arrest record is floating around and I fact checked it and it seems to be legit. It’s a mile long. His family says tonight that Freddie wouldn’t have wanted this destruction. I’m calling bullshit. It looks like he would’ve been right in the middle of it! Not that he deserved what happened but why when we see these videos of black people resisting arrest or getting shot, all the sudden the families say “he was such a good kid, going to college and he had a great job and obeyed the law”. When are you trashy parents going to get real with yourselves. Do some parenting and please start taking responsibility parents!!!! Honest to christ, they need to make it a law to have to do regular parenting classes on how to raise children cause all of these punks out here doing this clearly don’t have the positive influences in their lives!!! And can we please have some more positive black influences to set them on the right path instead of all these fuckers like Jackson and Sharpton who keep telling them it’s the white people who keep putting you down.
Done!!! Dropping my mic, Ok tear me a new one, I feel like I deserve it.
Aplause, aplause!!!
I agree 100% on everything you said. I want not to see color in this but do as well. I was a poor kid growing up and we didn’t have much but at no point did it ever occur to me to commit crimes to get what I needed or wanted. No one handed out anything, I worked and went to school and improved my lot in life. Still unable to wrap my head around a group of people capable of doing this.
I recently moved from Baltimore and I have to say I found it to be one of the least rascist places I have lived. I feel for the black police officers and black firefighters (like my girlfriend’s fiancé) who has to work with bricks being thrown at them.
Jackson and Sharpton for sure are race baiters. They do far more damage than good.
In my city (right down the highway from ferguson) TWO white men were shot. One was mentally handicapped, he ran away from police and was shot in the back, and while he lived, he will never be able bodied again. He won a big settlement from the city. The other ran away and was shot and killed by an officer. Guess what.. No riots! There have been protests, but calm ones. As a matter of fact, very low turn outs. Both had prior arrests, but neither was doing anything illegal at the time the police approached them. It’s just shocking how there has been almost no attention paid to them. #AllLivesMatter
Yes. All lives matter, but racism sells papers, that’s why the sole focus is on black people. However, this shit IS happening and I’m glad the spotlight is finally being shone on the murderous acts of some police officers, and the system that protects them.
Meanwhile, teaching others that it’s OK to be a thief and a thug. Yep, just what we need. Reinforce that stereotype.
You spoke the truth, you said what I’ve been saying for awhile. It’s a useless argument they offer to blame white people and no black person I’m close with actually thinks that way either so it’s quite a radical and new age thing. Most black people are appalled, sickened and terrified by what is going on. Don’t lump them in with the small percentage of this atrocity. I’ve never been so utterly terrified of something. When one of the largest cities in the nation is out of resources to fight fires because the bosses are being punctured I’ve officially heard enough. I feel like my heart is just broken over humanity at this point.
Hoses* not bosses
I knew there would be riots last evening as soon as I read that Obama was sending an envoy of three to the funeral in the morning.
How did that cause the riot? Just curious.
@Steph I agree 100% with everything you said.
Seriously, it’s crazy. Freddie Gray was not a good citizen. Where is all the anger when kids are killing each other for no good reason, or when an innocent victim gets caught in the crossfire?
I volunteer at a homeless shelter and could write a book on the bad parenting I see. It breaks my heart because everyone deserves better. Parenting classes help, but sometimes it’s not enough. I know I’ve seen some young criminals in the making. Their lives have sucked and their anger is bubbling.
I’m a black female and I agree with everything you posted. I know many non – blacks look at us (black folks) the way you described, but please believe there are many blacks who are fed up with the ongoing nonsense in our community and I’m one of them. I can’t stand Sharpton or Jesse, they and these rappers have been a detriment to our community. But you know why Jesse and Sharpton won’t do anything, because they know the old saying “Negroes will be Negroes” is true. Negroes are those blacks that just don’t give a f*ck and Jesse and Sharpton are the 2 biggest Negroes ever. I know many of you whites want to say this but you would be called a racist so I’m saying it for you LoL, but it hurts my heart by doing so but it’s the truth. Check out Dr. Ben Carson he’s one smart black man who has good ideas for the black community and all communities. He’s considering a run for president and I hope he does!!!
To clarify, my comment was in response to Stephs comment. I agree with her.
Hopefully it will be a positive change when Sharpton and Jackson grow too old to continue. I nominate the pastor of the Southern Baptist church chose church and community center burned last night. I was moved to tears by his quiet dignity.
Baby you need to read some BLACK history books! FAST!! If you knew anything about Reverend Al Sharpton, you would know that “he goes to a family when called by that family. He’s called by that family when the police do their dirty work and sweep it under the rug”. Sweeping it under the rug is the norm in these communities. I read up above that Mr. Gray’s rap sheet is a mile long… . Mr. Gray also had 80% of his spine broken and a crushed larynx while in POLICE custody. A video shows him talking before he got in that van. Mr. Gray was never arrested that day nor was he charged with anything. The police get part of their check from black people too you know. They are supposed to serve & protect black people too aren’t they? What about poor people? The 14-17 year olds rioting and looting are still kids. They’re not thugs. They’re kids that were rioting and looting and should have been arrested. Their actions were deplorable and disrespectful to everybody. The police that have been killing these men for fun need to be arrested also. And if you can call those kids thugs, then you have to include some cops that cause death by an 80% spinal cord break and a crushed larynx. Last, but not least, Ben Carson couldn’t care less about what poor people are going through. If he did, he and all the rest of America would focus on the senseless deaths in this country rather than focusing ALL of your attention on the riots in Baltimore. After posting this, I’m going to search this sight to read about Mr. Gray, the Mayor, and Baltimore before yesterday. I want to read your comments about the murder
Thank you 8os child, I believe the vast majority of black americans are good people and the shame of being identified with these cretins, is the same as whites, feel being identified by white nazi thugs. I could go with Mia Love as our first female president. Time will tell but she rocks. A big shout out for Tim Scott too. I feel terrible my son said nigger, I about lost it and then he explained that he got called out for saying thug and someone said “say what you mean…nigger” . I literally feel sick. He is furious and confused. His best friend is black and I am at a loss as to how to address this situation. Slightly funny, his best friend said that thug was cultural appropriation from India. Hooliga sounds like an 80 year old white man who hates Irish people. I just told both of them (black and white) that I just can not hear it and be comfortable. My blonde /blue eyed daughter chimed in with “it matters if it is nigga with an a or nigger with an er. She has black friends that call her “my nigga” WTF? Thankfully both her brother and Jarrod ,said no that was not cool. In the end it is an ugly word. I know I rambled but my heart is broken.
I hate the word police. Sunny on CNN is the one starting this whole thug nonsense. When you are referring to someone as a thug, you are not trying to worry about their feelings. We all no what thug is, it has nothing to do with race.
On Tue, Apr 28, 2015 at 7:52 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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Love Ben Carson!! He is very popular in Baltimore with all races, hopefully his popularity will spread.
A few weeks ago my friend (who happens to be a black man and a writer) buried his mother in Baltimore. He left her in the city that he was born and raised in and drove back to California. I imagine his horror at seeing what went on last night and I wonder if he feels that he left his mother all alone amongst the chaos. It’s just so hard to fathom that this was the solution that a bunch of thugs came up with when there were many other alternatives. Don’t they learn anything in their schools? Don’t they know their own history and how much good Dr. King did for civil rights….without violence? I am not black and I will never be profiled so many tell me not to speak on this subject. I am human though and I know what is right and wrong. How did this many children fail to learn the difference? Most of these rioters were kids from a local high school standing side by side with gang members and agitators who live for the opportunities to cause destruction. I guess I am naive….I don’t know how so many can be so ignorant. The politicians from the mayor all the way up to the president are offering no solutions and bungling the efforts to start a real dialogue to change things. They seem to be encouraging the criminals to do what they do. Do we have any leaders?
People profile constantly, it does not occur to me that a a spree killer such as Columbine, Aurora CO, Newton Conn. is not white. I think serial killer white. Meth I am going white. Pot, I am going bullshit failed prohibition. Spice/bath salts/flavor of the day everyone, Oxy/xanax upper middle class till they reach heroin, then it is equal opportunity.So am I a racist?
Ladies and gentlemen this right here IS the problem,when a few black people do ANYTHING wrong,a few self righteous white people want to lump ALL of us together and say they dislike a whole race,if we as black people hated ALL white people for the injustices done against our race over the centuries, trust this rioting would be happening everyday.
Amen!
i don’t think anyone is lumping anyone together. i think what is being expressed is that some are perpetuating the negative stereotype of the black community. this upsets us all. violence does not bring peace. and i did nothing to you kacey, i did nothing to your grandparents, my grandparents didn’t know yours i am betting. the history of slavery and racism is a sad part of this nation and when it is constantly rammed down my throat that i ahve white priviledge pisses me off. i am more native american that anything else and i do not act out because people make nasty comments in the area i live in about natives. we could all battle all day bout who did what to whom and whose forfathers are right, in the end we are the ones here and trying to live in this world in this time. we could so talk about the slaughter of thousands of native americans if you would like?
Kasey I have not seen one person on this thread say anything about disliking or hating on a whole race. The only person who went out on a limb and spoke what was in her heart about HER own race was 80schild. She did that she said because she is black herself . So is she hating on her own race?
If you want to pick a fight about racism go to a different blog. It’s that kind of mentality that is causing the riots. Freddie Grey himself has/had a long criminal record.
While watching last night All night I never saw one white person say or do anything racist toward the black community. Oh wait you’re right firemen and women attempting to put out fires that the ” young thug black community” started was being racist.
I will admit that black profiling is rampant in this country, but for the Love of God STOP lumping all white people in the racist pile. I saw a Vietnam vet stand boldly up to 2 thugs last night and tell them to GO Home. Guess what he was black! Does that mean he’s racist because he didn’t stand there and say “they’re angry, they’ve had it hard ” no he didn’t! he was sickened at what was happening to his city, stood in front of them and called them out on what THEY were doing.
We are on here giving our opinions and concerns. Everyone concerning this situation shares in the responsibility of making sure good hard working descent citizens are allowed to live in peace and to better their communities. The people that you’re waving a banner for in your post don’t deserve to be heard if all they are going to do is throw stones and that includes you.
Throw all the stones you want to verbally but you’re not helping “the cause”.
This is an equal opportunity blog, you have a right to your opinion just like everyone else. Just keep in mind that we are well educated in civics and have no patience when all a person wants to do is insight a verbal riot based on race . I watched a young Asian mother and her baby be rescued from her burning home. She isn’t white, why did she deserve to loose her home that she most likely has been working hard to provide for her child.You need to prepare for some strong backlash on your unfair post. I am white am I am sick and tired of black peoples racism against all white peoples . There are people of all races shooting for the same goal in this situation and burning down a city is not one of those goals.
When I comment about the rioters and looters, I use the terms “thugs” and “punks”. Because that’s what they are. I never mention race. Thugs and punks come in all colors.
But this is exactly what’s being done to the cops.
I was responding to a comment that was posted earlier,but i can’t find it now.
Not once in my comment have i said that looting and burning down their own neighborhood makes sense,actually it takes away from the real problem at hand.
You separate the color from the reporting by acknowledging how the reporting is framed when dealing with certain minority groups. You consciously know that this is not a representation of all black people but some. You recognize that crime like this isn’t attributable to one race or ethnicity. You recognize times in the media when the same behavior takes place by white people (esp college kids) and the behavior isn’t referred to as rioting but reveling and has similar if not identical outcomes.
It’s actually quite easy to do.
I would say that is wrong, if your team loses then it is a riot, if your team wins then it is out of control. You need to read the sports section. Damn we live in Tallahassee and last year after FSU (I am not an FSU fan) won the national championship ….ummm 1 burning mattress but it made the paper. Know what I call people who trash shit after games….thugs and I bet most have never been enrolled in college. We lived in AL, they put crazy in the football. The less time you spend on campus is proportional to how batshit crazy people behave. Tuscaloosa and Auburn , some shithead killed a VIP tree….jail (he was white). Damn ask TT damaging the hedges at UGA will get you time.
There is not one iota of difference between these criminals and the Baston Marathon Bombers. They all think their grievances justify their actions.
Well stated!
Truth. Except I think the misguided Muslims think they have a purpose that is true and noble. No one believes that the scumbag with the brokeback was murdered or deserves to live. Unless they are really dumb. He committed suicide by police. Simple. Wasn’t his first paddy wagon.
Lord have mercy! And if I feel that those 2cops in NY deserved to be shot in the head by a black man because they’re cops, you’ll be the first to wonder how could I say such a thing about another human being? You need to watch more than Faux TV and Friends. You need love in your life.
You need to take a face first leap into a woodchipper.
Suicide by cop is very deliberate, and very serious for the cops. It is very finite in how it is applied. Freddy Gray was a criminal but this was not suicide by cop.Many factors such as a narrowing of the spine, previous injury could be at play so wait for the facts.
The mayor should be immediately fired! Inexcusable incompetence.
What an embarrassment she was. I need to look up her background. She was so in over her head. Something to consider next time you’re voting for local officials. You hope nothing like this happens close to home, but if it does, is your mayor capable of handling it or smart enough to call in reinforcements?
Good morning all, hope everyone is safe this morning!
I’d like to add to Mr. Valentine’s words and encourage the concerned citizens of Baltimore to stay home! This Friday May 1st, 2015 at 6 pm stay home and stop spending for a full 24 hours!
No amount of peaceful marching nor rioting and looting will bring change. Treat it as 24 hours of rest and reflection. Don’t spend more money ahead of or after the day either. No online shopping or delivery during the time that you’re home.
Understand that the scope of protesting in 2015 should be an economic one. Know that your real worth is in your pocket. It should be noted, that the timing of the 1st day of the month falling on a Friday, already has historical, religious and political significance. You can learn more about it if you’d just stay home.
I too saw Mr. Valentine on CNN and heard him comments loud and clear. It was a great 30 seconds of sanity and a nice break in the midst of this mess! I thought I may have fallen a little bit in love with Mr. Valentine at that moment and sent a tweet through CNN asking if he would be my Valentine!
Oh, the Baltimoran’s were out in force last night. This type of activity is par for the course, usually it is contained in the hood, away from the decent folk and downtown. These are people that are beyond poor, desperate is a better term, multi generations on welfare.
Don’t worry Charm City will bounce back and the mayor is really not all that bad, she is better than most.
Better than most of what? If this is “better” than what is worse?
She really is not that bad. We had Dixon who was fired for fraud and before that Malloy who only using the office as a political stepping stone. Unfortunately she expected better behavior from her residents.
This breaks my heart.
Freddie Gray tragically lost his life, we know little about how or why. What we do know is that the black community of Baltimore is not conducting itself in a manner that will garner sympathy — but rather contempt.
Uh with all due respect this is not par for the course. Coordinated attacks on police. People told to shelter in place. Schools closed. Stores looted. Community activists begging for peace. No. It’s not. And to discount the significance of what is happening is part of the problem. Children who were caught up in rioting could have been killed. May still be. Baltimore doesn’t have the exclusive on multigenerational families on welfare with little hope. Look at any major city. Look at DC. Look at Anacostia. Every city has this shit. The problem is much the same as anywhere. And based on what do you suggest she is better than most? Her good judgment, strong leadership, and ability to calm the disinfranchised with motivational speaking? No. She’s bad. This just highlighted it on a world stage.
TAT, do you live in Baltimore?
Natalie, I don’t. I live outside DC. 30 miles away. I have spent fair amounts of time there and if you know the area, you know we zip between DC and Baltimore for the afternoon. And I have many many friends and employees who live there. And it is not too far removed from the DC situation which is probably why it makes me so angry and sad. Because police brutality is so very real in Baltimore and DC. And I don’t have a freaking clue how to even begin to stop it. Because even though I am a middle aged white woman, it’s important to me. Because I believe in accountability and opportunity for everyone.
Natalie – it looks like you do live in/near Baltimore? My apologies for “educating” you on the distance. You know. 🙂 Hopefully you were not near the problems. The senior center burning is also killing me. 60 units of affordable housing. Gone.
I could not echo your sentiments loudly enough, TAT. Thank you.
What the fuck kind of idiot parent drags their CHILD to a riot?
Well said.
Sorry, my response was for TAT.
TAT, thank you for responding. I long time ago I ran welfare to work programs in Baltimore, just with women with children. That city had so much funding for welfare to work they could not spend it all, use it or lose it. And just like all populations some were grateful for the opportunity, some so so, and some would do anything to “work the system”. It upsets me that people lump Baltimore with Detroit and other cities. Baltimore has a lot going for it and plenty of opportunities for those who want to help themselves. It is a long process to equality.
I’m mad!
Lol Ibe told everyone I know to not bother me from 3-430 today, mommy is locking her door and watching ‘Whatever happened to Baby Jane’ on tv!
Me too. Guess I’ll be DVRing it.
ME TOO. I’ll miss the first half hour, so I’m very much looking forward to the recap.
Go to the school office, claim an appt. (with your tv) pick up your child early. Just don’t lie so your child doesn’t hear that. Easy!
In lieu of deploying the national guard, the governor might consider charging and arresting the police who murdered Mr. Gray. That might calm things down a bit.
…and lest I forget, FUCK A CVS.
mm do you really think the person in Ms. Tattles picture cares about Mr. Gray?? The people that care are trying peaceful methods of justice.
Charming is the WORST. It smells weird and its dusty and like fingers on a chalkboard on muh butt.
and any plumber will tell you that is clogs the pipes.
Agree with you on the TP TeeCee. The ultra soft is a major toilet plugger.
Angel Soft, I hate Charmin.
Reports are coming out now that show court records of a settlement from a car accident. Apparently, he had spinal surgery the week before.
I have no idea if this is true or not but it is breaking news on the Internet, and I am being asked about it. They do have court records from the accident.
On Tue, Apr 28, 2015 at 8:36 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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Holy Effing Shit.
I read that awhile ago and checked here to see if you knew yet TT. One of my close friends actually tried to tell me it was false. I had to show her receipts. She hasn’t responded.
The sites reporting a prior spinal injury all appear to be right-wing blogs. A dubious claim? Another site says it’s from a lead-based paint settlement. Time will tell that’s for sure!
Not for nothing, but the President, through the new Attorney General, called for the Governor to order “restraint” by law enforcement. This is what happens when you tie their hands in the name of politics. I’m not for a second denying that whatever happened to Mr. Gray is not a horrible crime, even from the little information that has been released about it, someone killed that poor kid. But burning CVS down because of it? Punching strangers in the face? Destroying your own neighbors business? Not a single rioter was charged in Ferguson (not even the purported stepfather who incited the riot with his shouts to “burn this bitch down”). Start cracking down on the thugs and let the peaceful protesters do their thing.
Im torn. Citizens of the country have been peacefully protesting for atleast thirty years, not much has been done for progress. I wonder what our country would look like in 2015 had our forefathers peacefully protested British rule, I imagine we’d still be a colony and not the USA. When it comes to a point the government takes away citizens voice, hope and opportunities there is nothing peaceful about revolution. If you what you see right now in our country isn’t on the teetering point of revolution in afraid you’re mistaken.
Thirty years? I don’t remember anyone at the Boston tea party walking out with bags of Doritos.
No they dumped the tea into the Boston Harbor. It was sedition, an act of revolution I don’t agree with the looting that’s why I said I was torn. However, this is an act of revolution not nearly a protest.
No. These are opportunists. They saw what happened in Ferguson, and said “What the Hell? Let’s have some fun.” I wonder how many now will start Go Fund Me accounts? That seems to be the trend.
There will always be opportunist but to completely shrug this off as criminals having fun, is to completely ignore the fact that our entire country is at a boiling point with real issues that absolutely need addressed in a real way.
You want to create social change? Then protest. But, perpetuating the STEREOTYPE by looting and rioting will change NOTHING.
Its unsettling that the rioting will likely not only continue but will spread because of the establishment status quo. I don’t think anybody has the answer at least I have yet to hear it. There are very contentious issues facing not only black citizens but all citizens that truly are at a trigger hair point from implosion. We need some real leadership to carry us through this as a country.
People need to stop pointing fingers and blaming everyone else for the problem. They, instead, need to take a hard look at themselves. That’s where change needs to start.
Um, and yeah, they were protesting oppression (economic), with an identifiable message for the King (tea dumping, as opposed to Charmin and Nike stealing). And a teetering point of revolution? There is not a large enough population smart enough, organized enough, committed enough or BRAVE enough to revolt and start over. Please. All pussies; soft, stupid, selfish shallow pussies. Wouldn’t sacrifice themselves for the good of all, and wouldn’t know how.
amanda, have you ever left this country? Have you ever seen poverty? Does your concept of history go beyond US history? Just take Ireland why are they fighting for hundreds of years? Why are immigrants being killed in South Africa? What opportunities are denied? Baltimore is a black city run by blacks. Ferguson Missouri, has a black majority and get this ..the turnout in Nov 2014 elections 40%. After all that Micheal Brown BULLSHIT only 40% showed up to vote. Yet they have no voice.
The President said what?
Replayed the conference with Governor Hogan. With regards to the handling of the Freddie Gray incident the President and Governor Hogan had a conversation. […He thanked me for the action,” Hogan said of the president. “Said he thought we we’re doing the right thing. He said I assume that you and your team will be exercising due restraint, I assured them that we were…”] The Governor went on to say, [“That’s one whole situation. This is an entirely different situation.”]
Sorry if I just broke commenting rules, but come correctly or don’t come at all.
Let’s not get “peaceful protests” confused with shutting up, doing nothing or saying business as usual until it directly affects you. Let’s not use this forum to hide behind our racist intentions and spew pure hate.
How can you determine it was a crime? It could be a congenitial issue, if you ever read the sports section at least once or twice a year there is an athlete at a local level who has to “retire” because of a congenital issue. We do not know the facts…wait and then place blame. Mr. Gray was not a fine upstanding citizen and I do not know what happened and neither does anyone else. It diminishes horrible crimes such as occurred in Charleston SC. Wait for the facts please.
I have not read further down, and I have made a comment probably since you posted this, but it was a severed spinal cord. So it seems logical to think that happened while in custody.
As it turns out it might not be the case. He had spinal cord surgery and was supposed to be on bedrest. Maybe I have no idea. But now things get interesting.
On Tue, Apr 28, 2015 at 8:59 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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My husband’s small automotive business is a block away from where it all started yesterday at Mondawmin Mall. He didn’t even go in today to check on it, I think he might finally be done. His grandfather started the business, but they’ve been robbed and vandalized so many times he can’t keep up. And sorry, TT, but I disagree about our Governor. He’s actually DOING something, he’s a good man. The Mayor is worthless and needs to be held accountable for her part in all of this.
Rebecca, so sorry to hear your husband’s business is in the middle of all this.
On Tue, Apr 28, 2015 at 1:07 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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Thank you Tamara. No matter what, we’re be ok.
Thanks for your informed post — and I’m so sorry about your husband’s business! My opinion of the Mayor and her response was only based on what I saw and heard. I’m sure you know much more about her background. I also thought the Governor seemed prepared and in crisis mode, waiting for a help call. The only thing I don’t understand was his public defense of the Mayor, but I suppose he was trying to show a united front on behalf of the city.
Make no mistake: The governor has NO respect for this mayor. This mayor does not deserve anyone’s respect. I used to work for a state officer representing BC, and half the calls to him were people in BC BEGGING for help after first contacting City Hall multiple times for help. Everyone I know agrees that this mess has been brewing for a long time in BC. It is a scary fucking place, despite the MILLIONS of dollars the rest of the state taxpayers shell out every year to dump into the shitty schools and infrastructure which for the most part, and perplexingly, never seem to get any fucking better beyond the tiny little fancy nooks like inner harbor and canton. Seriously, BC schools are the worst schools in the state, despite BC and PG county being allocated well over half the end budget for the entire STATE. Look it up if you don’t believe me! Its the reason my 10 year old in a wealthier county has 32 kids in his class and no textbooks. I am supremely pissed that these assholes burnt down a brand new community center.
This mayor has had plenty of time to improve the culture of violence and poverty in BC, but the only measurable improvements have been implemented by private business and the state and that’s a fact.
This mayor’s background is such that one of her relatives previously served in public office in BC. She does have a law degree, wears very expensive clothes, and travels with an entourage. Beyond that, her leadership skills suck.
I live in an adjoining county/ suburb, and I am worried about my friends in BC who can’t go to work their shifts, and therefore won’t have money to pay for food and medicine this month. I’m worried for my neighborhood safety because a lot of our county officers have been sent to BC to help. There were reports last night of overflow crime into neighboring counties which freaked me out to read last night.
The Orioles are playing in an EMPTY stadium tomorrow. No fans allowed.
Fucking Baltimore.
Rebecca – I’m sorry. So very sorry. The people I hurt for most are you and your husband. Too many businesses already questioning if they will reopen. Who wins? Not the community. Nothing good comes from this shit. People just get hurt.
So Sorry Rebecca….so many unnecessary victims! Peace be with you….
This looting is ignorant and will not solve any problem that has occurred. It was not done in retaliation for anything but being used as an excuse for illegal activity. That being said my heart goes out to steph and anyone else who feels that this makes them have racial feeling towards people of color because of it. I would like to remind you that the Boston tea party since it was mentioned was the first act of rioting. White men stole not Doritos but crates of tea and thru them in the water and destroyed them. The first gang was the KKK even though they’re not called a gang. it is estimated in the millions of slaves were killed that were brought to America. In my lifetime as recently as the 60’s black people were killed just for wanting equal rights. I also would like to point out since you said that this was animalistic behavior that most of pedophiles,rapists,and mass murders that are incarcerated are white and I would definantly call that animalistic behavior. Does that make you scared of white people? What I’m trying to point out is that there are good people of all races and we should and judge each person on their own merit.
“And for the love of GOD if you need to steal toilet paper. Steal Charmin!”
LOL!!!!
Today i see a line of peaceful protesters standing in front of the police to protect. Yes, young, poor white/black has very few choices and opportunities. Its a huge problem that needs addressed and solved. Baltimore isnt alone, Detroit and other cities is devastated by no blue collar jobs. Prayers to the under priviledged.
You know why there are no jobs? Because you can’t have nice things or regular things in cities and neighborhoods like this. Businessmen don’t want to take the risk of investing here. Who can blame them! And I’m sick of hearing about underprivileged black people. Anyone of those underprivileged poor can change their situation by going to college. They can get a full ride to a community college through a government grant!
And I get sick of people assuming underprivileged don’t want or try to do better. My biracial mom worked as a school secretary and a waitress to support us 3 kids when my dad walked out on her for another family. She never took a drop of public assistance. Let me tell you how easy it is to study when your lights get turned off in the winter and your all huddled around a kerosene heater to keep warm. Yet I still managed to graduate on honor roll. Being the oldest I had to get a job after school to help my family out. College was never an option. That way it might be a possibility for my siblings. But this is how it becomes a cycle. Not by choice. I would have much rather gone to college. I was one of the lucky one who was able to work my way up in my company but it doesn’t happen to everyone. My sister did get to go to college when she graduated there were no jobs available in her field and she had to take a much lower paying job and pay back school loans. Because grants don’t pay for everything even if your poor. But we survived and do very well for ourselves today. Not all poor people are a victim of circumstance. Nor do they all wish to be lumped together as people that are not going to survive their current situation. Lots of us get out. Most if us don’t want to be there any more than you would want to be there. And please remember we are all just one really bad circumstance away from being in that situation. Do you think the people in the Louisiana hurricane thought for one minute they would be left with nothing stranded and as poor as nothing to eat,drink no where to live like a vagrant?
My daughter is right in the midst all this as I post this. She is a National Guard, wanna know why she is a National Guard, because we couldn’t afford to pay her full college tuition and she really really wanted to further her education, enlisting was her answer. Come June her 8 years will be over and come the fall she will be a college student. Options come in all forms. The people we are disgusted at are nothing but excuse makers. The only people holding them back from a brighter future is themselves. There is no reason in this country a person can’t have a promising future, no matter what color the are.
Cheychey, and hopefully each generation of your family will have better opportunities. Your mother did good and it will eventually pay off for your family until your on the other end of the spectrum…afluenza 🙂
I love when affluent people who have no idea what they’re talking about start spewing propaganda about how easy it is for poor people to obtain these magical unicorn “community grants” to get a “full ride to a 4 year college”. Lmao. This is when it becomes important to stop reading gossip blogs and actually click on a few news headlines, to get caught up on the dramatic reductions in both private and public student aid funding that have taken place in the last 10 years. And the REAL kicker is that the cuts also applied to the GI Bill, so that not even volunteering to die in live combat can get college paid for anymore. I mean, yeah, the GI Bill still ” exists”, but with all the regulations and restrictions, good luck getting the classes you need to earn an actual degree in under 8-10 years- especially if your chosen course of study involves any mandatory or in person clinical training which cannot be met online or off campus.
Actually I do know what I’m talking about love2hate. A few years ago my husband had what we would call a bad year at work due to the fallout from the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. I was able to get somewhere around $4,000. Now I can’t remember if that was for the whole year or just 1 semester but it was definitely enough to take 3 classes a semester and pay for some or all of my books. And I’m sure he was still in the upper allowable amount of income you can make before they don’t give you anything. If you have the want to change, you will find the way to get there.
Spooky, I mean this in the kindest possible way, but you seem a bit sheltered and uniformed about so very many things. Your comments make you look ignorant to the point of really riling up people. I know it is unintentional; however, it would behoove you to read more and speak less as by your own admission you are not well versed on the subject. Because you are not, your comments read as extremely offensive to those who are.
On Wed, Apr 29, 2015 at 8:00 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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I couldn’t make head or tails of the mayor’s stupid comments, I mean, WTF. But it occurs to me — and I’m not even wearing tin foil! — that maybe she’s crazy like a fox. Because it seems to me her deliberately hands off approach and “giving room” for the criminals to riot actually makes her police force look good, and models of restraint. By that action, she’s managed to change the conversation from the subject of police brutality to “see?? they DESERVE to die!!!”
Bingo. Wagging the dog.
This whole situation is a HOT MESS!!!…I couldn’t believe what I heard when the mayor said we need to give folks room to destroy? I went back three times to make sure I heard her right?!! Are you kidding me? So many businesses and social service centers destroyed…cars, buildings…smh. Millions of taxpayer dollars…
Why they did this on the day off the funeral is unreal. …no respect for that family. Rioting does not solve a thing and only destroys the communities people have to live in. I live in Maryland and ironically i work in Baltimore (my position is remote) but don’t know the Baltimore area very well. Since everything started yesterday my texts and emails have been blowing up from work through our emergency alert system. We have to find a better way to express outrage than this.
Rebecca I also pray for your families well being. This looting, and attacking officers and businesses solves nothing.
I know everyone is obsessed with Baltimore now but I’m infuriated by Indonesia. I can’t believe they executed 8 people for drug smuggling. It’s a crime but death by firing squad.
Most were poor mules. I was sad that no one fought for the Nigerians. Australia, Philippines, France, and Brazil all had advocates louder than Nigeria. At least the Philippines woman got a temporary reprieve. Devasting.
Can’t believe the shallow grave in Nigeria with men women children.
Sorry Im a downer. Just hate watching the news because there is so much bad. Just wanted to share not compare pains. They all suck
I really hoped they weren’t going to go through with it. It’s so barbaric.
Props to the Baltimore mom who slapped the shit cotta her son on national TV for being in the middle of that chaos. A lesson who will always remember: my mother loved me enough to embarrass herself and me to save my life. He’ll thank her when he grads from Univ. MD. in 2020…
No. He won’t. Because not even middle class kids can afford UMD tuition.
She’ll be on CBS morning show tomorrow. Somebody will offer to pay that tuition and in 4 yes that will be the feel good story that came from these tragic events. Meet ya back here in 4 yrs to see if it comes to full circle.
I would be thrilled for your prediction to come true, but I’m not holding my breath because I actually live here and I know how things actually work here.
Vonnio511, I can just hear that mother right now (at least it would be what I would have been saying to mine) “Boy what in the hell do you think you are doing out here acting like this. I raised you better. You’re not going to be out here acting a fool like the rest of these thugs stealing, looting and burning shit. Take that stupid ski mask off your head and look at me boy. I don’t care if your friends are watching. I brought you into this world and I can take you out and make another one that looks just like you. Don’t you talk back to me. I told you you won’t ever get big enough to talk back to your momma. If I have to stand in a chair to whip your ass I will. Now take your ass to the house. I am not through with you yet and you can tell you little friends I said so. Their Mommas need to come get their stupid behinds too.”. YAY for her.
@HannahkungrosePerfect script, exactly what i would’ve said as my heart was pounding. That was 100% a scared and concerned parent. and what I like most he was not disrespectful to his mom when she caught him. He never raised a hand nor did he curse her out. That young man knew better but got caught up and his mother reinforced what her expectations are for behavior.
I finally saw the clip on the news. That mom went old school discipline on her son. Loved it! She did not care about cameras, police and the crowd. In this case the slaps were deserved. It would have been much worst if he ended up arrested.
@cece that’s why she slapped the bejesus outta him. She was probably terrified watching the footage knowing her son went to that HS and was grateful she found him and he wasn’t arrested or injured so she slapped the shit outta him “in Jesus name amen”
cece if there was going to be violence used in Baltimore that Mother was using the only kind I could condone in that situation.
Ninety-nine percent of the posts here are focusing on the aftermath. The riots, the protests, but very few are focused on the ISSUE. Police brutality, the lack of accountability that police have when Black men die while in custody. Nope, not worth discussing at all. Who cares?? The only reason it’s on our radar at all is because of the riots. But even then, we never look at the cause of the revolt, only the revolt. Like a horse with blinders, we only see what the media wants us to see. And some of us never bother to take the blinders off, we refuse to see the bigger picture.
Here’s the problem I’m having. I am a white stay at home mom. I have just a couple of black friends. I never hear them complain about any police brutality. They are college educated and brought up in a wonderful family. There father was a police chief. We moved away from the crime and the predominantly black area we lived in so my children could have a better school and nicer community. My point is, I don’t deal with black people/issues on a regular basis so I maybe out of touch, police brutality hasn’t been on my radar until the past year.
I’m going to be completely honest and I know I might take heat for this but I see the rioting and looting and I care just a little less now about your police brutality. Those thugs have shown themselves to be untrustworthy to me now. I saw something last night that was a peaceful rally or something and the guy rallying up the black men asked for a show of hands as to whom had encountered police brutality and I want to say 2/3 of the 30 people standing there raised their hand. I have a real hard time believing that they all encountered unfareness from the police and that they didn’t do nuffin to warrant it.
How many times have we seen videos of black people resisting arrest claiming innocence when it doesn’t matter, you don’t resist, you comply and pick a better time to fight your allegations or the supposed eyewitnesses lying about the Michael brown BS just to make the cop look bad. Liars!!!! We keep seeing you disrespect police who are doing their job. I’m sorry but I see these things and I just don’t completely trust that things are that bad for black people when it comes to police. Now I don’t mean it’s not happening, there is clear police brutality in some cases. But you are essentially asking white people to help your plight when we’ve seen you time and time again blatantly disrespect police officers and we are now supposed to believe it’s as bad as you say?????
I’m just not there yet with my thinking. I might get there at some point. I might get on board and say I think you’re right, it’s unfair and outrageous and way too prevalent for blacks to be treated unfairly by police, but I’m just not sure yet that it’s as bad as you want us to believe. I need more persuasion and evidence.
JFC, lady. Please STFU until you can “get there with your thinking”.
I’m a white, stay at home mom, too, but after 5 years living in a suburb halfway between DC and Baltimore, I have learned not to say or think such dumb shit.
My local NPR was reporting yesterday on the millions of dollars Baltimore City has had to pay out in the past 30 years for deaths and injuries resulting from police brutality.
HOW NICE, though, that your 2 WHOLE black lady friends never speak about police brutality in your presence.
The fact that people feel so comfortable coming on a blog owned by a Black woman and spouting that kind of racial BS is indicative of everything I just said. Stand strong in your ignorance, Spooky.
loveto, I agree with the police brutality comment, but the fact is the looting and rioting takes everyone thoughts away from the real problem.
I’m sorry to offend anyone. That is not my purpose. But even if you think I’m ignorant, I’m going to stand by my main point which is I don’t know if I believe it’s as bad as they want us to believe. Millions of dollars over a 30 yr period really doesn’t sound like too high an amount. I’m sure there are bad cops and I’ve seen cops do awful things. It is a very high stress job and having to deal with ignorant thugs like we’ve seen looting and rioting, has got to be very taxing and maybe they don’t make the right decision all the time in a split second.
You hate what I’ve said and you think I’m wrong, change my mind and help me see. Telling me to STFU is not helping. I really don’t think there is anything wrong with what I’ve said, it is my opinion based on observation.
And I didn’t think the owner of the blog was a black woman, but I would’ve stated my opinion regardless. I mean, I’m not sitting here saying I hate black people and they suck. We are all adults and should be able to hear different opinions.
@Spoo, It’s important for you to follow the news, and take time to read the stories about these people who have been murdered by the police. Some of them had checkered pasts, but some of them did not. Research a killing in Charlotte of a football star who had an accident in his vehicle. Hurt and disoriented, he went and knocked on someone’s door for help, who thought he was one of those black thugs come to rob him, like TV shows. Police came, and after many minutes of making him turn around, lift up his shirt, pull up his pants legs, etc., he took a step forward toward police officers, asking for help. He was shot 10 times, and killed. FOR HAVING A CAR ACCIDENT. I know you have removed yourself from urban life, and only have a sprinkling of black people in your life. But it is incumbent upon you to stay abreast of the issues that take place in our country and the world each day. For you to say you are not sure if it’s as bad as others want you believe, simply shows me that you are not in touch with what goes on, fully. That is a luxury for you and a curse for those around you. And who exactly is the “us” you are referring to when you say you aren’t sure it’s as bad you want us to believe? Who is the “you” that you are referring to? You don’t have to agree that there is a problem, it exists without you. But I would like to suggest that you learn about all things, not just selected ones, so that you can teach your children to be well-rounded, diversely aware human beings. Could some of these kilings have been avoided? We will never know now. I know that my husband is a Federal police officer for 18 years, and I am a retired police officer of 15, now in investment banking. He and I both never shot anyone for running with their backs to us, or having a car accident, or looking at us and running. And we haven’t choked anyone to death for selling loose cigarettes. There are some officers out there who panic and shoot rather than using their training. There needs to be reform. There are some people, of all races, who will just not do the right thing and need to be arrested. But killing them is something entirely else. All I am asking is to read the news, and learn for yourself what the issues are, and what the truths in this world are. Make sure you get your news from reliable sources, and then form an opinion and get on this blog and speak with knowledge.
The biggest problem I see right now is the media coverage. The problem is not what they are showing us, but what they AREN’T showing us.
The media only reports on those who have criminal backgrounds and run from the cops. Heroes are being made out of criminals. And they rarely, if ever, show white looters, or blacks who help others, or good cops, for that matter.
Why was there no focus on the innocent 12 year old boy who was shot in the playground, because he had a toy gun? His story is one I think everyone can relate to. He was just a kid in a playground. And black.
As for discussions, we need to be more tolerant of each other. Yesterday, I had a two hour conversation with a friend of mine on Facebook. She is anti cop. I am anti thug. (Now don’t jump on me for that….thugs come in all colors.) Our discussion became very heated. But we respected each other, and at the end, we were in neutral territory. And still friends.
Maybe we all need to start small, one on one, instead of mob vs mob?
Mina,
Thank you for your insightful remarks based in both intelligence and firsthand experience. I really appreciate your words.
Natalie,
My brain is boggled as to how you could possibly have interpreted any one of my comments in this thread to defend or justify the terroristic actions of the rioters.
Spooky,
I just can’t with you.
Cat, Mina, I just re read this blog. Thank you for your comments. Really good
Day late dollar short Dee
I agree, some of these comments are appallingly lacking in focus or comprehension of the macro situation.
That was meant to reply to sarcasatire above.
TT just schooled me and I think I need to apologize for offending posters here. I was ignorant and insensitive in some of my comments and I’m sorry. I’m a bit frustrated and conflicted in my thinking. I need to get out more because I apparently don’t know what I thought I did and I had no business speaking on it. I’m sorry.
I forgive you, Spooky. It’s a very difficult subject. There is a lot of information out there, try and have an open mind.
Have a good night and don’t beat yourself up… We are all learning every day.
Keep reading Spooky. Not just here but on real news sites like the Baltimore Sun. You’re fine, you just need more information and you asked for some, which is a great start!
On Wed, Apr 29, 2015 at 11:14 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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Spooky, I’m sorry for speaking so harshly toward you previously. I too was very sheltered in a past life, and it has been a massive culture shock and learning curve for me over the years, to start to see things for how they really are. I appreciate your frustration and desire to make sense of things. I’m obviously frustrated, too, for different reasons. One thing we have in common is that our abilities to effect change are limited with our young kids. My instinct is to drive to west BC and help with cleanup, but with young kids and major medical issues, I can’t do that, and it makes me sad.
I appreciate your willingness to admit that your worldview might benefit from more research or experience. If more people were so willing, tragedies like this wouldn’t be happening. <3
Spooky, I looked in the Baltimore Sun, in the past five years over $6M has been awarded to people who have been hurt by the police. I hope you can research the subject. Last year there was a 12 year old shot in a park. He was playing with a toy gun and was killed by the police. I can’t get that video out of my mind. Good luck
Wait was that kid in Baltimore? I remember watching the story.
On Fri, May 1, 2015 at 10:19 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:
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Sorry it was a park in Cleveland. I got worked up about death by cop. I read that the cop was judged unfit for duty.