# WTF Baltimore? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 27, 2015, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-baltimore/718677 "2015-04-27T22:01:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2015, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-baltimore/718677/41 "2015-04-28T01:03:59Z")
Just what does the Mayor’s Oath (Oaf?) of Office say? And, does it mean anything? Also, is she the same woman caught in the gift-card scandal? I forget if that woman was forced out or retained as Mayor. ---
**Author:** ![rsa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rsa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsa)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2015, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-baltimore/718677/42 "2015-04-28T01:04:34Z")
These were not protesters. The family of Freddie Gray had asked for no protests at all on the day of the funeral. The first trouble was when high school let out and kids started throwing rocks at the police and then ran away. The real trouble started in a different location where the fires were started and stores looted. The police did nothing and people were driving up in their cars to load up with looted items. I saw video of this also happening at the closed mall. I saw a van of people drive up and jump out carrying garbage bags to cart off whatever they could get from the mall stores. When the fire department was trying to put out the fire at the CVS (without police protection) their hoses were being cut. I am as disgusted as anyone about most of the recent black deaths, but these people today were not outside agitators and they weren’t peaceful protesters who just had their frustrations boil over. These looters and vandals were thugs and thieves, pure and simple. All the black city administrators are calling these people thugs, not protesters. Don’t be so compassionate as to be blind. My cites are on the scene reporting on CNN and MSNBC. Most of what I wrote is now documented on various online news sources. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2015, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-baltimore/718677/43 "2015-04-28T01:08:10Z")
Huh, and I heard that the police shut down public transportation just when school let out, and started pepper spraying and arresting students when they “refused” to go home as ordered. ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2015, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-baltimore/718677/44 "2015-04-28T01:08:45Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > You, of course, if you were in the mayor’s position would have responded HOW? By fiddling while Baltimore burns, dear Nero. ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2015, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-baltimore/718677/45 "2015-04-28T01:15:59Z")
If you call in the National Guard you’ve already lost the argument; how long did that take? Really, in a democracy the only way to maintain control is to immediately resort to marshal law? ---
**Author:** ![Kiros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/439d5e/32.png) [@Kiros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiros)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2015, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-baltimore/718677/46 "2015-04-28T01:30:04Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > What in the hell is going on in Baltimore, and why? Without getting involved in, um, everything that this thread has inevitably become, [this Atlantic story](http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/04/the-brutality-of-police-culture-in-baltimore/391158/) is both good in its own right and contains a number of secondary links that add even more background color for the tensions that have led to the (regrettable, though somewhat predictable) escalation over the last couple of days. ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2015, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-baltimore/718677/47 "2015-04-28T01:38:07Z")
> [@up\_the\_junction](#): > > Really, in a democracy the only way to maintain control is to immediately resort to marshal law? Just to be clear use of the National Guard is not synonymous with martial law. The state troops called out for this (under the power of the Governor) do not supercede the civilian governmental structure and do not have the same powers as police. They serve the civil authority. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2015, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-baltimore/718677/48 "2015-04-28T01:40:47Z")
Just pointing out [BBC news is covering the story](http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-32490250) from an outside perspective and is a good place to look. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2015, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-baltimore/718677/49 "2015-04-28T01:42:46Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > I understand the rioting. The same way I understand a prison riot. These are uneducated, racist, opportunistic, self-serving criminal scumbags let loose. They should declare marshal law and send in the National Guard and mow them all down dead with M60s. Stop the rioting and eliminate a huge amount of worthless ‘humanity’ along with any future offspring. There’s a reason these people are called ‘niggers’. They are the black version of racist white trash rednecks and should all be shot on sight. > > Go there and see how far your politically correct liberal guilt gets you (Hint: It would get you robbed, beaten & killed). It’s 2015 for Christ’s sake, not 1968… You’re receiving a warning for using hate speech, which is violation of [the board rules](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=7697044&postcount=10) and the [registration agreement](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=347160). ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2015, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-baltimore/718677/50 "2015-04-28T01:42:48Z")
Dear Neighbour, Something needs to be done here. This killing and injuring of blacks by the very people entrusted to provide their security is just not acceptable. I don’t know how you’re going to fix this, but you need to fix this. The USA is not a third-world country. Find a way to get your act together. I’m sorry, but this really cannot continue. Take care. ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2015, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-baltimore/718677/51 "2015-04-28T01:44:37Z")
> [@DinoR](#): > > Just to be clear use of the National Guard is not synonymous with martial law. The state troops called out for this (under the power of the Governor) do not supercede the civilian governmental structure and do not have the same powers as police. They serve the civil authority. Oh okay, so it’s just a great day for representative democracy. ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2015, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-baltimore/718677/52 "2015-04-28T01:50:08Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > These are uneducated, racist, opportunistic, self-serving criminal scumbags let loose. They should declare marshal law and send in the National Guard and mow them all down dead with M60s. Stop the rioting and eliminate a huge amount of worthless ‘humanity’ along with any future offspring. There’s a reason these people are called ‘niggers’. Is this a quote from 12 Years a Slave? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2015, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-baltimore/718677/53 "2015-04-28T01:51:56Z")
> [@Kiros](#): > > Without getting involved in, um, everything that this thread has inevitably become, [this Atlantic story](http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/04/the-brutality-of-police-culture-in-baltimore/391158/) is both good in its own right and contains a number of secondary links that add even more background color for the tensions that have led to the (regrettable, though somewhat predictable) escalation over the last couple of days. The excessive police force seems well documented by multiple court cases. This recent case with Freddie Gray could have been a chance to use peaceful protests to bring meaningful change. Baltimore has a diverse city government. They could make changes. Instead people used this situation for looting and rioting. That’s going to result in calls for stronger policing. The opposite outcome then what is needed. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2015, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-baltimore/718677/54 "2015-04-28T01:52:54Z")
> [@up\_the\_junction](#): > > If you call in the National Guard you’ve already lost the argument; how long did that take? > > Really, in a democracy the only way to maintain control is to immediately resort to marshal law? This is the second time in this thread. It is “martial”. Please. ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2015, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-baltimore/718677/55 "2015-04-28T01:56:41Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > This is the second time in this thread. It is “martial”. Please. As if you matter. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2015, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-baltimore/718677/56 "2015-04-28T02:00:51Z")
Okay, fine, then I’ll say it, just on the basis that it annoys me, and not anything to do with Terr. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2015, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-baltimore/718677/57 "2015-04-28T02:02:37Z")
> [@up\_the\_junction](#): > > As if you matter. Eh, I don’t really like anything about **Terr** , but he’s right that it’s annoying. [This](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshall_Law_%28Tekken%29) is Marshall Law while [this](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martial_law) is martial law. It’s really not that hard people. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2015, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-baltimore/718677/58 "2015-04-28T02:03:27Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > I understand the rioting. The same way I understand a prison riot. These are uneducated, racist, opportunistic, self-serving criminal scumbags let loose. They should declare marshal law and send in the National Guard and mow them all down dead with M60s. Stop the rioting and eliminate a huge amount of worthless ‘humanity’ along with any future offspring. There’s a reason these people are called ‘niggers’. They are the black version of racist white trash rednecks and should all be shot on sight. > > Go there and see how far your politically correct liberal guilt gets you (Hint: It would get you robbed, beaten & killed). It’s 2015 for Christ’s sake, not 1968… I think the content of your posts indicates a tragic waste of a really good user name. ---
**Author:** ![Cato\_Younger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cato\_Younger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cato_Younger)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2015, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-baltimore/718677/59 "2015-04-28T02:04:40Z")
> [@up\_the\_junction](#): > > If you call in the National Guard you’ve already lost the argument; how long did that take? > > Really, in a democracy the only way to maintain control is to immediately resort to marshal law? I must correct you, Martial Law hasn’t been declared in Baltimore. The Maryland National Guard can still be called out without Martial Law. There is no suspension of Habeaus Corpus in Baltimore or Maryland. Please both side stop throwing out unsubstantianted reports with out proper sourcing. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2015, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-baltimore/718677/60 "2015-04-28T02:24:30Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Dear Neighbour, > > Something needs to be done here. > > This killing and injuring of blacks by the very people entrusted to provide their security is just not acceptable. I don’t know how you’re going to fix this, but you need to fix this. > > The USA is not a third-world country. Find a way to get your act together. I’m sorry, but this really cannot continue. > > Take care. This very thread shows why it’s so difficult to fix this. The attitude shown by some here is unfortunately not uncommon. Like so many other problems we face, we have willfully ignorant people fighting every step of the way any attempts to fix it. Common sense should tell people that the Mayor was not suggesting that people should be allowed to destroy, but they hear it from Limbaugh or Fox News and from then on it’s gospel. We have media personalities who seemingly intentionally misinterpret statements in the worst possible way in order to mislead as much of the electorate as they can. And we have their listeners who latch onto those misinterpretations and, when people try to point out the error, refuse to consider context or other possible meanings. I’m not sure why. Perhaps out of fear, or hatred, or maybe simply not wanting to admit, even to themselves, that they were misled. I guess I’m rambling now, but I’m just so fucking frustrated with stupidity and willful ignorance. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-baltimore/718677.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-baltimore/718677.md?page=4)