It was a rough night for Baltimore. Protests against the death of 25-year-old Freddie Gray under police watch turned violent. Schools remained closed and shutters were down on shops that survived looting. Gray’s mother and several other members of the African-American community appealed to protesters to not resort to violence.
1. Just Beat It
On the streets, Monday night, there were other sane voices that tried to be heard above the madness. One of them was street performer Dimitri Reeves.
Reeves got hold of a boombox to belt out Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” and did the moonwalk on an intersection smack in the middle of the riot control police and angry protesters.
Any MJ fan would tell you the song is about the pointlessness of gang violence. Reeve’s moonwalk assumed a whole new significance to the discourse on the community’s response to racial profiling by some American cops.
Dimitri’s message got a loud “Aow” in approval from all those who saw him bust a move for peace.
2. Mother Of The Year
So, you’re young, wild and restless, a rebel without a cause or a bad boy who wants to go rioting because school is closed. Forget the National Guard. Enter Angry Mom. She gonna stop ya!
The unnamed woman is reported to have spotted her son rioting on TV. She managed to track him down and “disciplined” him on live Television!
3. “Do Not Give Them Reason”
The words were repeated by a protester who shielded the riot-control police from agitated protesters who had been stirring up trouble. The 6-foot plus African American holds his arms up, blocking angry men from advancing towards the assembled cops who are in full riot gear.
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