On Saturday afternoon, amid the violent protests demanding justice for Freddie Gray in downtown Baltimore, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake took to the microphone to answer questions on how the city is handling the protests. Blake told a reporter that she “worked with the police” on how she wants them to handle the situation.
“It’s a very delicate balancing act, because while we tried to make sure they were protected from the cars and the other things that were going on, we also gave those who wished to destroy space to do that as well. And we work very hard to keep that balance and to put ourselves in the best position to deescalate, and that’s what you saw,” said Mayor Rawlings-Blake.
Watch her press conference here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCtjGtgRQb4
We gave them space to destroy? Why are we not arresting those responsible for destruction? There is no freedom of destruction in the constitution that I defend. This is insane. I hope that Baltimore pays for all the damages to privately owned businesses and property since they provided a place for it.
Baltimore Mayor: Space Was Provided To Those Who ‘Wished To Destroy’ [VIDEO] http://t.co/BvQhjs2W87 pic.twitter.com/mU5GVR9Oo7
— Republic Buzz (@republicbuzz) April 27, 2015
Many found the mayor’s statements baffling and confusing. To allow rioters to destroy city public property as well as its own resident’s personal possessions just didn’t seem logical.
Baltimore Mayor on Riots: We Gave “Those Who Wished to Destroy, SPACE TO DO THAT” http://t.co/Xe54pGGZj2 pic.twitter.com/DrRrHLmpc9 — Republic Buzz (@republicbuzz) April 27, 2015
I’ve heard of “free speech” zones & “safe space” zones, but “free to destroy someone else’s property” zones is a new one for me. #Baltimore
— Josh Earnst (@NotJoshEarnest) April 27, 2015
#Baltimore Mayor #FreddieGray Riot Destruction: “We Also Gave Those Who Wished To Destroy, Space” She should have to pay for damages too — Wayne DuPree ★彡 (@WayneDupreeShow) April 27, 2015
Baltimore mayor: We gave them space to destroy. http://t.co/45X0gioo1g She oughta be thrown in jail – aiding & abetting.
— toddstarnes (@toddstarnes) April 27, 2015
@rdesai7 police are just embracing SRB’s “space to destroy” policy … who knew???!?? — flitetym (@flitetym) April 27, 2015
@CharlesInChains … more specifically, it has taken us to “space to destroy” … one of the more memorable quotes emanating from this …
— flitetym (@flitetym) April 27, 2015
@wboc @MikeaTurnerTV yeah, right … Hogan is instructing police to allow public tantrums and ‘space’ to destroy property like SRB … BS!!! — flitetym (@flitetym) April 27, 2015
At a place and time when you would look to a leader to calm the situation, I am not sure this action would qualify. World News Daily did a fabulous piece on how the media failed to report the president of Black Lawyers for Justice, Malik Zulu Shabazz was the leader of the riots this weekend.
Shabazz is the ex-leader of the New Black Panther Party. It was a major fail this weekend in my city of Baltimore at every level. You would think they would be ready for this and sadly they were not.
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H/T: WAAR TV
