Today I miss Representative Elijah Cummings deeply.
After the death of Freddie Gray in police custody in Baltimore, residents of that city were angry.
Very angry.
And justifiably angry.
Because there was no excuse how someone could enter a police van perfectly healthy and exit it with a broken neck.
Protests grew. Impassioned and orderly first.
But soon tempers flared, and acts of property damage and looting ensued. The spotlight of the world suddenly shone on Baltimore, and the media was predicting deadly riots along the same scale as the 1992 Rodney King riots in Los Angeles.
That first night was a scary one in Baltimore. The city was on edge. Thankfully, there were no reported fatalities though.
But the next day, something significant happened.
This was Representative Elijah Cummings' congressional district. Like many other people in his district, he was horrified at what had happened to Freddie Gray. Like many other people, he wanted justice in Gray's name.
But he also didn't want to see his city fall deep into the throws of violence and chaos.
So that next night, he gathered with other community leaders, lead a peaceful protest, and when it was over, he announced over a bullhorn for people to return to their houses.
And they did just that. Because he carried so much respect in the community.
He did the same thing every night throughout the remainder of that week. And acts of property damage decreased. And not a single person was reported killed as a direct result of the protests. He continued doing that until the end of the week, when criminal charges were announced against the officers involved with Gray's death.
I truly believe he literally saved people's lives with what he did that week. He was truly a hero for what he did.
We sorely need more Elijah Cummings these days. On the local level, the state level, the federal level and all the way up to the White House. We need that level of respect and concern for the people he exhibited, that both shows strength and unity in the face of injustice while also seeking to maintain the peace.
Rest in peace, Representative.
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My heart is breaking and there is a definite void where we need leadership. The POS has all but declared war on our state, the Pentagon has activated deployment standby, and I fear what could happen next if this plays out. 
@missingElijahCummings
