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As the funeral for Freddie Gray, the man who suffered a fatal spinal injury in police custody, was held Monday, the Baltimore Police Department announced they had received information about a "credible threat" against the lives of its officers.
In [scribd]263262264[/scribd]a press release[/url], the department states that "members of various gangs including the Black Guerilla Family, Bloods, and Crips have entered into a partnership to 'take out' law enforcement officers."
The statement advises local agencies to "take appropriate precautions to ensure the safety of their officers."
Now that the Mayor of Baltimore has made it clear that she is inclined give "those who wished to destroy space to do that," it appears that nationwide gangs who are usually rivals are now organizing together to kill cops in Baltimore. It is certainly not hard to see how this could expand to other locations across the country.
Of course this is not without precedent, as New York Mayor Bill de Blasio sided with the gangs against the police force of his city and by doing so made himself complicit in the killings of two New York Police Officers.
Any police department nationwide that is not currently moving to full alert to prepare for this threat is making a huge mistake.
So, is this how a nationwide race war starts? Can you think of a more likely way? I am not sure that I can.
The mayor is in a real pickle because she can't blame the incident on race or guns and she cannot turn on the police union.
The people of Baltimore have a right to be upset over this incident, now we get to find out if you can "pee down their backs while telling them it's raining." Or if they manage to not be deflected and protected by party affiliation. (Quote from a Clint Eastwood movie)
When Ferguson occurred she was invited to speak on Meet the Press. She commented about how Baltimore's force was so diverse and communications with the community are key to avoiding the scenes of Ferguson. Now look at her, she looks lost in the sauce. A few weeks ago there was speculation she'd run for Senate since the candidates thus far are from DC suburbs.
With each new incident (regardless of 'fault' or truth) the media, aided by individuals and ubiquitous technologies, seek to sensationalize and broadcast highlights. Immediately all parties anticipate and predict protests and worse. With each one new standards of bad behavior are set, tolerated, and 'justified'.
Given this course and speed, it's just a matter of time before things get very ugly.
On Monday, a spokesman for the mayor issued a statement clarifying her remarks.
"Unfortunately, as a result of providing the peaceful demonstrators with the space to share their message, that also meant that those seeking to incite violence also had the space to operate,” said her spokesman, Howard Libit. “The police sought to balance the rights of the peaceful demonstrators against the need to step in against those who were seeking to create violence. The mayor is not saying that she asked police to give space to people who sought to create violence. Any suggestion otherwise would be a misinterpretation of her statement."
I guess i'll give her the benefit of the doubt for now, and point out that the addition of a single word could have made all the difference here:
i.e.,
“It’s a very delicate balancing act, because while we tried to make sure that they were protected from the cars and the other things that were going on, we unfortunately also gave those who wished to destroy space to do that as well,” Rawlings-Blake said.
You know... people could actually try to reform the criminal justice system instead of emboldening it...
These gangs have been a long time coming. This is what happens when you strip communities of jobs, services, and education, throw half their members in jail, and have police abuse them.
and people could stop breaking the law to be arrested - or it they fail on that one, could stop resisting said arrest to invite struggle.
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