Pressure was growing on Tuesday on Baltimore
mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake to lead the city away from violence
after she was accused of delaying an emergency response and making
statements alternately criticized as inciting riotous protests and
dismissing protesters’ concerns.
At a news conference, Rawlings-Blake said she had ordered police to “give those who wished to destroy space to do that”.
On Monday night she made a testy appearance at a news conference in which she referred twice to protesters as “thugs”.
The mayor’s office later said Rawlings-Blake’s comments on Sunday had
been misunderstood. “The mayor is not saying that she asked police to
give space to people who sought to create violence,” the office said in a
statement. “Any suggestion otherwise would be a misinterpretation of
her statement.”
Baltimore was the scene of violent clashes
on Monday between protesters and police after a funeral for Freddie
Gray, a 25-year-old man who died on 19 April from an unexplained spinal
injury sustained while in police custody. At least 27 people were
arrested and 15 police officers were injured, according to officials. [...]
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During the height of the protests on Monday, Rawlings-Blake referred to the protesters as "thugs" in a press conference.
"What we see tonight ... is very disturbing," she said Monday evening, the same day a funeral was held for the 25-year-old who died in police custody. "It is very clear that there's a difference between what we saw last week between the peaceful protests ... and the thugs, who only want to incite violence and destroy our city. I'm a life-long resident of Baltimore. Too many generations have spent their lives building up this city to have it destroyed by thugs, who in a very senseless way are trying to tear down what so many have fought for."
On Wednesday, she apologized on Twitter.
"I wanted to clarify my comments on 'thugs.' When you speak out of frustration and anger, one can say things in a way that you don't mean," she wrote. "That night we saw misguided young people who need to be held accountable, but who also need support. And my comments then didn't convey that."
Many who took issue with Rawlings-Blake's use of "thugs," including some of her fellow city leaders, argued that the word is racially charged. Baltimore City Councilman Carl Stokes suggested on Tuesday night that instead of calling the protesters "thugs," she may as well have used the n-word. [...]
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Baltimore Mayor Apologizes For Calling Protesters 'Thugs'
Huffington Post
Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake (D) is walking back critical comments she made about the violent protests in response to the death of Freddie Gray.During the height of the protests on Monday, Rawlings-Blake referred to the protesters as "thugs" in a press conference.
"What we see tonight ... is very disturbing," she said Monday evening, the same day a funeral was held for the 25-year-old who died in police custody. "It is very clear that there's a difference between what we saw last week between the peaceful protests ... and the thugs, who only want to incite violence and destroy our city. I'm a life-long resident of Baltimore. Too many generations have spent their lives building up this city to have it destroyed by thugs, who in a very senseless way are trying to tear down what so many have fought for."
"I wanted to clarify my comments on 'thugs.' When you speak out of frustration and anger, one can say things in a way that you don't mean," she wrote. "That night we saw misguided young people who need to be held accountable, but who also need support. And my comments then didn't convey that."
Many who took issue with Rawlings-Blake's use of "thugs," including some of her fellow city leaders, argued that the word is racially charged. Baltimore City Councilman Carl Stokes suggested on Tuesday night that instead of calling the protesters "thugs," she may as well have used the n-word. [...]
She's nervous. The thugs are her voter base.
ReplyDeleteHad she called peaceful protesters "thugs" they'd have a point. Watch the video: these aren't demonstrators, they're on a shopping spree.
ReplyDeleteWhat is she doing to improve life for Baltimore residents? At little as can be expected from clueless career politicians.
ReplyDeleteI remember the 1968 riots ---anti-Vietnam
ReplyDeletewar. This was before the all volunteer
army. The US had the draft. I was
nearly drafted. There was the Martin Luther King
assassination. There were reasons for
the inner city riots.
Now, in Baltimore, there is high
unemployment, as in Greece, Europe, etc. The USA 1st quarter 0.2% GNP. Firms are little investing in the USA new
plant and equipment. Deflation is in the
USA. These are not reasons for riots, are they? The ayatollas make their people
say “Death to America.” America allows
that and allows pirating on the high seas under the nose of the USA navy. My advice for Obama: bomb the ayatollas in
one night’s work, and you’ll see all will be well and everyone will love you
forever and ever.