Baltimore and DU's sudden interest in Freddie Gray says a lot about what's wrong

[justiceischeap]

Some of us on DU have been talking about Freddie Gray since his tragic arrest was reported. Sadly, not much interest in Mr. Gray. Suddenly, some teens "attack" a CVS and DU explodes about the topic of looting but still not really discussing Freddie Gray. Haven't seen much mention of Mr. Gray but lots of judgement about looting. Do you not see the disconnect? They certainly have people talking about Baltimore now but for all the wrong reasons.

[luvspeas]

1. signed in after a long absence just to agree with you...

I've been part of DU for a long time. I don't usually post much anymore but I do look at what others are saying quite often. I usually come here to see some great rational discussion about current events with a few outliers in both directions just for spice. But some of the threads I am seeing here are pretty disgusting, callous, and downright disturbing. I think you are absolutely right. I have been fighting police brutality against people of color in the streets since 1986. Nothing NOTHING has changed for the better. Things have gotten much much worse due to the militarization of our police. I am not just referring to the tank-like things and advanced surveillance we saw in Ferguson, I am referring to the training of our police force by ex-military and the belief that it is OK to put a foot on someone's neck to subdue them, or hit them repeatedly with a metal bar or push someone's face into the ground and break bones just to put on handcuffs. This shit is wrong. and when you combine it with a bunch of cops whose attitudes are sort of skewed in the first place and a constant level of fear that every single person they encounter might just shoot them, it's a recipe for disaster.

But really folks - please quit further insulting people with these shitfucked callous threads making fun of microaggressions. That in and of itself is the definition of a microaggression-to feel like it's OK to make fun of things that bring other people pain. That has always been how I look at things. If someone says it hurts them-it hurts them. Deal with it.

And please people - pull down your skirts because your privilege is showing. OK, a little confession, in the 60s I grew up in a suburb of Chicago. We never went into the city because my mom was afraid of riots. Seriously. So whenever this came up, my brother and I would start screaming RIOTRIOTRIOTRIOTRIOT!!!!!! Until my mom wanted to kill us. I swear I want to do that to you all right now. Please quit playing night at the Colosseum in front of your TVs and start looking to the practices of the police IN YOUR COMMUNITY and demand answers and solutions right in your back yard because goddamnit it's gonna keep happening and keep happening until we change the way we think about our fellow human beings. thanks.

[justiceischeap]

3. Righteous rant!

I like it. Thanks for signing in to comment.

[luvspeas]

7. back atcha

What I really don't get is why isn't anyone concerned that a kid is dead because he LOOKED AT THE COPS AND RAN? Even the Baltimore police say that's what happened. I personally am not surprised. Cops have been staking out low income neighborhoods and harassing everybody that lives there for a long ass time. But now those same cops seem to have the authority to kill on sight. Another thing I don't understand why more people aren't concerned about.

[justiceischeap]

11. I was there last year taking some pictures

I wasn't in a good neighborhood (most of Baltimore is a "bad" neighborhood--meaning people of color and poor) and a cop pulled up and asked what I was taking pictures of. I said Baltimore. He sat on the street until I was done, then followed me to my car. I know what he was doing but I didn't need his "protection." No one was paying me any mind but him. Guaranteed if I was a person of color, that would have gone an entirely different way.

[HereSince1628]

2. Interesting...I get the feeling Baltimore rioting isn't getting much attention from DU.

Maybe it's because people are at work, but I would expect more threads and more replies in the threads

[justiceischeap]

4. There's actually more about the riots than there were about Freddie Gray.

Which, was the point of my OP. I think I just counted 15 different threads about the looting but not many of them are actually about Freddie Gray and the militarization of the police or how it seems to be open season on the African-American community.

[Rex]

5. I had no idea about the CVS, but knew about Freddie Gray since it happened.

A lot of people in GD were talking about it right after it happened. You will always have a certain element scoff at rioting and looting AS IF it is beneath them personally.

While I don't like the idea of unrest...it happens all the time throughout history and people SHOULD notice. They should also ask what breakdown in government caused the community to get to this point.

A riot broke out among some cops and they broke Freddie Gray into many pieces and laughed about it...

The problem?

I see it as clear as day.

[justiceischeap]

8. It just saddens me that some people on this board don't use the rock between their ears

or refuse to see the actual cause behind looting/riots. What's going on in Baltimore now is opportunism but that opportunism is brought on by what happened to Freddie Gray, Walter Scott, Philip White, Eric Harris, Eric Garner, Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice and too many others to list. That the only time people really talk about these communities is when they loot or riot. Saturday thousands marched in Baltimore but nothing from the media (they were all too busy being patted on the back and yucking it up).

[pintobean]

23. Seems like attacking DU is about all you do

other than tooting your own horn.

[justiceischeap]

27. Why the defensiveness pinto?

Should I apologize that I'm bothered that there appears to be more reaction to looting than the actual death of Freddie Gray? Or Bruce Jenner and his political affiliations? Is it tooting my horn because I mentioned it? Classy.

[yuiyoshida]

6. WATCHING!

http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/show/cbs-baltimore-live-video/

[luvspeas]

9. Don't believe the hype

the terms rioting and looting are used by the media. as stated previously, the cops rioted all over Mr. Gray. And looting??? Well, don't get me started.

[yuiyoshida]

10. I don't know about Hype...I do know

THERE is violence because I am watching it live. Why don't you check it out.

[luvspeas]

13. did you ever stop to consider the violence that's not on TV? Or the Heroism for that matter?

You do not not know what the people of Baltimore have had to endure or how so many have persevered and succeeded in spite of it. You will not know by watching television.

[yuiyoshida]

17. right so you are not watching it...

thanks for your opinion.

[luvspeas]

20. I'm not entirely sure why you are here...n/t

[yuiyoshida]

22. WHERE is "Here" of which you speak?

DU? Maybe because I am a Democrat? That would be a great guess, don't you think??

[luvspeas]

26. I think you are a flamer...need i be more basic?

You are asking us to look at the television then accusing us of not looking at the television when we don't agree with you. I'm asking you to turn a critical eye to what you see on television. Use your mind and think for yourself. Based on your posts and your responses I don't think you have a lot of personal experience with this particular community or these issues and I am asking you to consider that. So...I don't know what the point is by what you are posting.

[yuiyoshida]

34. AGAIN ...

Thank you for your opinion. But if you don't want to watch, that's fine by me. I could care less about your personal opinion about me, you..with your low post count. Tell you what, put me on Ignore, K? Enjoy your day!

[luvspeas]

36. low post count? that's funny...

why does that matter to you?

[yuiyoshida]

40. AGAIN...

Last edited Mon Apr 27, 2015, 09:27 PM - Edit history (1)

put ME ON ignore, and stop harassing me.

[luvspeas]

41. You are unusual...I'll say that much. n/t

[yuiyoshida]

42. I am glad you find me Unique...

Have a good day, bye

[Lars39]

25. Nice to see you again, luvspeas.

As you've noticed, DU is not as progressive as it used to be.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

12. "...DU explodes about the topic of looting but still not really discussing Freddie Gray."

It's almost as if rioting sucks all the oxygen away from the supposed underlying subject -- just as those who decry rioting have been saying.

[justiceischeap]

14. I'm not pro-rioting

I'm pro-understanding--I get why people riot (what's going on now is looting and opportunism, which is different than rioting).

I agree that looting takes away from the discussion but that doesn't take away from the main point that Freddie Gray was sort of quickly pushed aside on DU but now people want to talk about looting.

[luvspeas]

15. not really

see sinn fien and Apartheid in South Africa. You need the radical and the respected together. also see Malcolm X

[nadinbrzezinski]

16. It might come as a surprise to you

but some of us have been covering the issue of police violence and prison system and the rest off site. I chose not to talk of these issues on GD for the most part.

Right now I am doing the live blogging at my paper, and secondarily here. But except for some posts I have done on policy, some of them at the AA group, I really do not bother with it on DU.

Suffice it to say I have not just the Baltimore PD scanner on (on the phone on an app), but have my physical scanner on my local channels. It might come really as a shock to you, but the tension, for good reason, is not just limited to Baltimore. I would guess most major urban areas and mid range are one critical incident away form what the media loves to cover.

I know my town is. And I know why as well. Suffice it to say the shit rolls downhill. But we are really in, likely, for a really nice hot summer... and I do not blame the victims of this shit for it...

Suffice it to say, a riot is the language of the oppressed.

[luvspeas]

21. I think we are saying the same thing...

and of course it would be a surprise to us that you are posting off site. How would we know? although considering some of the bullshit i've seen here I do not blame you one bit.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

18. Sudden my ass, that's just bullshit. nt

[hifiguy]

19. Can't speak for anyone else but I've been following this since the first thread appeared.

IIRC I commented briefly on the ridiculousness of the kkkops' "explanations" and excuses.

I don't blame African Americans for nearly any response short of open warfare. This police shit has to stop NOW.

[justiceischeap]

29. Thanks, I will. nt

[1000words]

43. Actually, I apologize for the unnecessary snark

I understand the point you are making and regret receiving the OP as an admonishment.

[justiceischeap]

44. Apology accepted.

It's a message board where sometimes heated discussions and varying viewpoints will sometimes clash--I never take it personally.

[1000words]

46. Good attitude.

[luvspeas]

30. I'm sorry that you don't think much of yourself...

otherwise why would you say that? Even sarcastically?

[mcar]

28. I don't post much

But every time I see the video of that young man being dragged, obviously in severe distress, by the police I get sick to my stomach.

When will it end?

[luvspeas]

31. me too

me too

[realFedUp]

32. Expecting justice to unfold dude

Instead of people looting and setting a store on fire.

Lots of us saw the injust damage and unjust treatment of Gray. We were waiting for the report.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

33. interesting observation

a sad one, but very interesting indeed

K&R

[FarPoint]

35. Cops need to get honest.

It's the coverup that fuels the outrage. Someone from City Management needs to take control and address the public with honesty.

[Vattel]

37. I guess I have to agree with you.

I noticed the lack of interest in the case myself. My posts and other posts about it sunk like rocks.

[bravenak]

47. I notice your posts.

[underpants]

38. I've seen a lot of threads on this

But yes DU gets hyped up on the MSM freak out of the moment.

[realFedUp]

39. Gadsunderpants, you must live at DU

Maybe in the Lounge

[Jamastiene]

45. K&R

It is time to de-militarize the police, clean the slate, fire them all, get an entirely different police force made up of law abiding citizens who don't agree with the damn KKK (and there are many current police who do, in fact, do that, an ex-cop named Greg Bullard, from Richmond County, NC was passing around The Color of Crime a few years ago and saying all black people are guilty of something, among other things). I'm sick of sitting on that info wondering where to post it. I'll be goddamned if I'll take it to my grave for lack of knowing where to post it. So, here it is. Maybe someone somewhere knows what to do with the info. I sure don't. That is his name and he is a racist piece of shit. He has ties to Indiana too. Apparently, there are a whole bunch of them that seem to agree on that type of bullshit and it goes back and forth. Maybe someone who was falsely imprisoned by him in either state can use it in their appeal or something. Just in case there are any convicted felons who were arrested by that asshole are reading this, does the phrase "pink bunny" mean anything? If it does, maybe this info can help you. Yeah, he admitted to that too. I don't know what else to do with the info. When there are so many racist cops, what else can we do but mention them online by name when they open their big mouths and start passing around hate literature? The corruption in my home town is transparent. It is open and always has been. It's not like turning him into his "brethren" cops here is going to do any good. That much is for goddamn sure. Then, they'll just come after me and there won't be a damn thing I can do. I can sure post the truth while I have half a chance beforehand though.

We need an entirely new police force, nationwide. Take the goddamn tanks and shit away too. They use that crap to intimidate citizens and they are outright shooting citizens and killing them in other ways as well. I'm sick of kids getting killed for RIGHTLY being afraid of racist, scumbag cops who are KNOWN for shooting black kids. I would like to see some of these people who say, let them arrest you instead of running, go through what we have seen happening. They need a reality check. Playing nice with cops doesn't make them be nice to you. So, those people saying that need to STFU. We need to clean the slate and make damn sure all new cops hired have been fully vetted for any ties with hate groups before hiring them. That will be the only way this can be really stopped. Otherwise, it will just keep continuing as it has been. They are in bed with the hate groups, same as our military (case in point: Fort Bragg/Fayetteville). We can do without cops long enough to start over with new cops who aren't part of hate groups.

If the Feds wanted to try to straighten those ties out, they can start with the 5 states and Indiana. The 5 states are where the western tip of North Carolina meets up with 4 other states. That is their epicenter. Check the gun laws and architects of those gun laws in those 5 states to find the heads of those hate groups. It's not some methhead that might get arrested down the line that is the real head of their comfy control over this area. It's politicians and business leaders and church leaders. Those who laugh at any of this info as conspiracy shit have never heard the phrase, Invisible Empire, nor have they seen it happening their whole lives with no idea who to go to to try to stop it. Bad thing is, the Feds, especially the FBI and ATF are up to the gills in members of the same exact hate groups too.

That is why I think cleaning the slate and firing them all now, then only hiring new ones with no ties to hate groups is the only way to ever clean that shit up.

If I turn up dead, because the racist cop I named knows who I am, at least the info is finally in the public domain now. It's a load off my chest too. I'd rather die with a clean conscience than live with info because I don't know who to tell it to to actually get anything done about it. I'll just blab it to the world and hopefully the people who can do anything at all about it can use it.

The reason I haven't said much lately is because I don't know what to do to stop the slaughter. I don't have the power to do what I think will be the only way to clean up the police; fire them all and start over and vet the new ones with the most comprehensive background checks imaginable...and start from the top down.