A jury is now deliberating the guilt or innocence of the first of six Baltimore police officers charged in connection with the death of Freddie Gray, which led to days of rioting. City officials, as well as school administrators, are preparing for the worst if a not guilty verdict is handed down.
Emergency HQ. More police. City schools send letters home. White House asks for calm. #Baltimore awaits a verdict. https://t.co/WIf42Oq05F
— Colin Campbell ☀️ (@cmcampbell6) December 15, 2015
Police Commissioner Kevin Davis has sent a letter to the Baltimore Police Department asking that the police “fervently resist the low expectations” many in Baltimore have of law enforcement.
.@CommishKDavis letter to @BaltimorePolice pic.twitter.com/IlZoUJgwuk
— Baltimore Police (@BaltimorePolice) December 15, 2015
Baltimore schools warn violence won't be tolerated after Porter verdict. https://t.co/BBXCgQnAEr
— The Baltimore Sun (@baltimoresun) December 14, 2015
Schools also sent home letters asking parents to assist in making sure their children don’t resort to walkouts, vandalism, civil disorder and violence.
Letter has just been given to students warning them about the consequences of participating in protest. (pgrph 4) pic.twitter.com/ZuWnTEWamv
— Assatas Syllabus (@Assata_Syllabus) December 14, 2015
That tweet was sent by Assata’s Syllabus, “a community of guerilla journalists and educators that strive to engage an audience diverse in race, age, gender, sexuality, ability, religion, and class.” What’s the chance they share their name with Assata Shakur, the fugitive cop killer who escaped prison and sought political asylum in Cuba?
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In any case, students are already walking out in protest of the school district’s warning that they not walk out.
.@BCCBloc Students Respond to @BaltCitySchools CEO Letter Criminalizing Student Protest https://t.co/liKmBUH9ub pic.twitter.com/FR04GYok3e
— Baltimore BLOC (@BmoreBloc) December 15, 2015
The ACLU of Maryland has written its own letter calling the school’s reaction a missed opportunity “to constructively engage with students.”
Strong @ACLU_MD response to @BaltCitySchools letter about protests https://t.co/8T2072fsiy
— Baynard Woods (@baynardwoods) December 15, 2015
“The school system’s letter assumes that students would engage in violent acts, assumes that students only want to express their emotions, not rational views about the conduct of police and lack of accountability, and it misses an opportunity to affirmatively engage students who want to be politically engaged on these issues,” writes the ACLU.
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