Sean Yoes
After two days of deliberation, the jury in the trial of William Porter the first of six Baltimore police officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray couldn’t come up with a verdict, they were deadlocked. And Judge Barry Williams instruction to them was concise; `Keep going.’
While ultimately a mistrial was declared on Dec. 16, it seems clear City Hall crafted its position a long time ago; prepare for the worst. Some argue the city was actually attempting to bring out the worst.
“It looks like they are trying to incite a riot,” said Kwame Rose during a segment on First Edition on Dec. 15. Rose, a social activist and Baltimore resident famously (or infamously) confronted Fox News’ Geraldo Rivera for the media’s biased/racist coverage of Baltimore during the uprising. Rose specifically was commenting on the city calling upon law enforcement agencies from other jurisdictions to array their forces along a perimeter around the city. For example, there is a phalanx of armored vehicles currently parked in Druid Hill Park.
“It’s as if (they) are trying to egg people on so their stereotype laden fantasies come through,” said Natalie Davis, a Baltimore resident now living in Tennessee, in response to a Facebook post featuring a photo of armored vehicles in Druid Hill Park.
“This is ridiculous. They are more focused on citizen reaction to a miscarriage of justice, than actual justice in the courts for a murdered citizen,” said Catrice Greer in response to the same Facebook post. “I do not support this behavior by the department (police). This is misguided, offensive and a waste of taxpayers monies used to allay unfounded worries and prejudices,” Greer added.
Further, Baltimore police rescinded all leave requests and ordered 12 hour shifts for officers in anticipation of the Porter verdict. But, other city agencies have also engaged in jittery posturing.
“As you are all aware, the trial of the first police officer in the death of Mr. Freddie Gray is drawing to a close, and a verdict could be rendered as early as this week,” said Dr. Gregory Thornton, CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools in a statement on December 14. “Like Mayor Stephanie RawlingsBlake and city police officials, I am very concerned about the possibility of civil disorders following announcement of the verdict,” Thornton said.
Yet, some leaders suggest the angst is concentrated in certain segments of our community. “Frankly, there is more anxiety and tension around the verdict within local law enforcement, the media, and federal, state, and city agencies than there is in local neighborhoods,” said Heber Brown, pastor of Pleasant Hope Baptist Church, in a Facebook post this week. “Agencies and systems that are “on edge” help to create an “on edge” climate in communities and can provoke something that wasn’t even in the cards to happen,” Brown added.
Still, Pastor Brown and his church, as well as dozens of other faithbased institutions and community organizations are part of Baltimore United for Change, which will be prepared to provide support through the, “Safe Harbor Program,” if trouble arises after the verdict is announced.
The faithbased community’s response, which includes being mindful of the ongoing struggle for long needed systemic changes, is a more holistic approach than the fear based directives of City Hall. Unfortunately, the city has been reactive, not proactive in anticipation of the first verdict, with virtually no focus on the root causes of April’s uprising, only producing schemes to keep the natives in check and ratchet up fear.
Last week when I talked to four candidates for Baltimore City Council, I think Jermaine Jones, a candidate for the Third District may have offered the sum of the matter, regardless of the first verdict or the next five.
“The next day after the verdict, just like in April, we still have to live here in Baltimore,” Jones said. “This is still our city.”
Sean Yoes is a senior contributor for the AFRO and host and executive producer of First Edition, which airs Monday through Friday, 5-7 p.m. on WEAA 88.9.