A lot of people are going batshit crazy over these indictments.

[BumRushDaShow]

8. "Do the indictments mean people in Baltimore...?"

For we in the black community, it has always been "one step at a time" but at least it is "a step". It may be a low bar for those not among one of the communities of color, but for us, it removes one level of stress from us.

When "we" (as in my AA community) fear the people who are supposed to "protect and serve" just because of what we look like and have to look over our shoulders everywhere we go - into a store, riding a bike, walking down the street - and god forbid, don't run anywhere (including jogging) because you will be summarily considered "guilty" by any law enforcement officers in the area and "justice" will be meted out right on the spot... This may sound like a lot of hyperbole but the current case seems to illustrate this.

An indictment that might make a "few" (but we know not "all" of the criminal element within a police department), reconsider looking for, spotting, targeting, following, stopping, questioning, frisking, roughing up, assaulting, arresting, and then ultimately killing us in the street, IS the beginning of bringing about a change in terms of civil rights (as many of the the gains from the last "civil rights era" have essentially been negated - both in the courts and in practice on the streets).

Just being able to "walk" down the street or "stand on a corner" chatting with some friends, or browse through a store for something to purchase without being accosted by police, is quite a feat for many in America's urban areas.