Marjorie Cohn: The Chickens Come Home to Roost in Baltimore

[marmar]

The Chickens Come Home to Roost in Baltimore

Wednesday, 06 May 2015 00:00
By Marjorie Cohn, Marjorie Cohn's Blog | News Analysis


Once again, the nation watches as prosecutors deal with the killing of an unarmed black man.

&quot The officers) failed to establish probable cause for Mr. Gray's arrest as no crime had been committed by Mr. Gray ... Accordingly, (he was) illegally arrested," Baltimore state's attorney Marilyn Mosby declared, as she announced the filing of criminal charges against the six officers implicated in Freddie Gray's death.

Gray made "eye contact" with Officer Brian Rice. Gray then ran from Rice, and Rice began chasing Gray. It was after Gray surrendered to Officers Garrett Miller and Edward Nero that Gray was taken on his fatal "rough ride."

A "rough ride" is an unsanctioned technique that some officers use to injure arrestees without physically touching them with their hands or weapons. The driver typically takes intentionally rough or rapid turnsß around corners or makes sudden stops. Since the suspect is handcuffed, he is unable to brace himself so he falls forward, often bashing his head against the inside of the van.

Like so many African American men before him in this country, Gray was guilty of nothing other than "walking while black." In his case, Baltimore's sordid history of racial and class oppression, combined with the war on drugs, made for a deadly combination. ......................(more)

http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/30625-the-chickens-come-home-to-roost-in-baltimore

[Sherman A1]

1. I can only hope for a

complete and fair investigation. That those who are found to be involved are given their day in court and if found guilty, punished.

It is also far beyond the time to make cultural changes in the way city governments and their law enforcement branches operate. This will neither be quick or easy, but it must be started.

[Omaha Steve]

2. x 2

[Gothmog]

3. I am glad that the DOJ is investigating the Baltimore PD