Eyewitnesses: The Baltimore Riots Didn't Start the Way You Think

[RockaFowler]

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/04/how-baltimore-riots-began-mondawmin-purge

The funeral of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old black man who died in police custody this month, had ended hours earlier at a nearby church. According to the Baltimore Sun, a call to "purge"—a reference to the 2013 dystopian film in which all crime is made legal for one night—circulated on social media among school-aged Baltimoreans that morning. The rumored plan—which was not traced to any specific person or group—was to assemble at the Mondawmin Mall at 3:00 p.m. and proceed down Pennsylvania Avenue toward downtown Baltimore. The Baltimore police department, which was aware of the "purge" call, prepared for the worst. Shortly before noon, the department issued a statement saying it had "received credible information that members of various gangs…have entered into a partnership to 'take-out' law enforcement officers."

When school let out that afternoon, police were in the area equipped with full riot gear. According to eyewitnesses in the Mondawmin neighborhood, the police were stopping busses and forcing riders, including many students who were trying to get home, to disembark. Cops shut down the local subway stop. They also blockaded roads near the Mondawmin Mall and Frederick Douglass High School, which is across the street from the mall, and essentially corralled young people in the area. That is, they did not allow the after-school crowd to disperse.

Meghann Harris, a teacher at a nearby school, described on Facebook what happened:

Police were forcing busses to stop and unload all their passengers. Then, [Frederick Douglass High School] students, in huge herds, were trying to leave on various busses but couldn't catch any because they were all shut down. No kids were yet around except about 20, who looked like they were waiting for police to do something. The cops, on the other hand, were in full riot gear, marching toward any small social clique of students…It looked as if there were hundreds of cops.

More at the link . . .

[underpants]

1. Baltimore doesn't have a subway that I know about

They do have electric rail cars

Just sayin. Going to read article now.

[salin]

3. I think they mean the sandwich shop Subway ... (nevermind)

Proof I need my reading glasses. It clearly is talking about a subway.

Interesting read.

[eomer]

4. Metro Subway

http://mta.maryland.gov/metro-subway

[underpants]

11. My mistake. Thanks. n/t

[eomer]

15. You're welcome. Thanks for being nice about it, hope I was too. n/t

[underpants]

16. The MTA site says routes are closed due to "police activities"

[onenote]

6. Apparently the fact you don't know about it doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mondawmin_(Baltimore_Metro_Subway_station)

[underpants]

10. :-)

Apparently the fact that you didnt recognize that I qualified it bothers you too much.

[Calista241]

13. This in as Internet forum, and apparently the rule is...

If you're not being an asshole, you're not doing it right.

[underpants]

14. :-)

thank you

[underpants]

2. Great read.

Rec'd

[JustAnotherGen]

5. Kicking it up

I will post a reference in the AA Group on this - it's too important to drop like a stone.

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

7. Cops started it, no surprise there

[bravenak]

8. I saw this yesterday and thought it was very important.

Cops are trpained to start shit. That's how they keep the crime rate up to justify their presence and pay.

[Mr Dixon]

9. WOW

Agreed

[brush]

12. Thanks for posting this — cops had a big part in starting the whole thing. nt

[sheshe2]

17. Cops sure love to stir the pot.

[Jefferson23]

18. Recommend. n/t