5000 National Guard troops have been deployed by Barack Obama to Baltimore to curb race riots – for the first time in this American city since assassination of the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968. This time riots were sparked by the death of 25-year-old black man Freddie Gray in in police custody.
Freddie Gray, 25, who died a week ago after his neck was broken while in Baltimore police custody, had been in an out of prison since 2008. He was arrested previously at least 18 times for selling heroin and marijuana in the streets. However, his latest arrest for possession of the switch-blade knife resulted in his broken neck while in police custody. This caused the same effect as assassination of the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968.
Gray’s funeral sparked protest against police brutality that later grew into full-scale riots. The result of Baltimore riots – cars and houses burnt, shops looted and white people robbed and beaten in the streets sporadically by gangs of black youth.
Baltimore police was unable to cope with situation, so Barack Obama had to deploy 5000 troops to restore order in this American city. He also came up with a statement condemning violent behavior, stating the inciters of riot should be treated like criminals. A the same time American president described the issues of overusing force by police against African Americans as a slow rolling crisis.
However, besides police brutality towards black men, experts consider unemployment, poverty, and extensive drug use among black youth one of the main triggers that thrown out the violence in the streets of Baltimore so suddenly.
One of the people who suddenly got famous overnight is Toya Graham, who recognised her son in one of the protesters and smacked him in front of numerous cameras.
Riot in Baltimore is the wost case of social unrest since the riots triggered by the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, who was shot dead by a policeman a year ago. Many similar incidents questioning the use of force by police have emerged in cities and towns across the US recently.
5000 troops have been deployed to the American city of Baltimore to curb race riots.
Photo: Reuters
Photo: Reuters
Gray’s funeral sparked protest against police brutality that later grew into full-scale riots. The result of Baltimore riots – cars and houses burnt, shops looted and white people robbed and beaten in the streets sporadically by gangs of black youth.
Baltimore police was unable to cope with situation, so Barack Obama had to deploy 5000 troops to restore order in this American city. He also came up with a statement condemning violent behavior, stating the inciters of riot should be treated like criminals. A the same time American president described the issues of overusing force by police against African Americans as a slow rolling crisis.
However, besides police brutality towards black men, experts consider unemployment, poverty, and extensive drug use among black youth one of the main triggers that thrown out the violence in the streets of Baltimore so suddenly.
One of the people who suddenly got famous overnight is Toya Graham, who recognised her son in one of the protesters and smacked him in front of numerous cameras.
Riot in Baltimore is the wost case of social unrest since the riots triggered by the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, who was shot dead by a policeman a year ago. Many similar incidents questioning the use of force by police have emerged in cities and towns across the US recently.
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