In Baltimore, the Maryland National Guard is on the streets, a week-long night curfew put in place overnight, and millions of dollars in property damage has occurred — all as a direct result of anti-police protests. The violence flared after rioting broke out following the funeral service for Freddie Gray, a young black man who died last week of injuries sustained after his arrest. Fifteen police officers were injured in Monday night’s unrest, six of them seriously, according to officials.
The city is just the latest American community to be stricken by growing anger over the manner and methods used by law enforcement, particularly when it comes to the arrests, detention and deaths of black men. Months ago, it was Ferguson and Missouri’s turn to be ripped apart. Undoubtedly, there is a bias when it comes to dealing with minorities. Police officers seem all too willing to shoot first and ask questions later and when officers are seen to overstep their powers, they receive preferential treatment from their peers and in the wider judicial system.
On Monday, young people began hurling bricks and bottles at police in riot gear soon after Gray was buried in the afternoon. Their anger is understandable. But the level of violence that followed goes beyond protesting, which is a First Amendment right under the US Constitution. The subsequent riots amounted to criminal activity and cannot be tolerated. However, inequality should also not be tolerated anymore in America.
