The death of Freddy Gray while in police custody is certainly a tragic case. I hope the Baltimore City police department does not try to sweep its culpability under the rug. There's no getting away with it now.
But what also is tragic is seeing the so-called political leaders of Baltimore City stand in front of the news cameras and offer up excuse after excuse to somehow try to explain away the actions of the violent opportunistic thugs who used Gray's death as an excuse to loot and burn the city ("Under guard, Baltimore cleans up and looks ahead," April 29).
I'm sick of hearing Rep. Elijah Cummings and Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake whine about disadvantaged youth, disenfranchised people and the lack of opportunity in the black community as reasons for the riots.
My dad died when I was 19, and I didn't have anything handed to me. I worked hard, overcame life's hardships and became successful through my own efforts.
I didn't have the benefit of food stamps or Section 8 housing or aid from the Fuel Fund pay my BGE bill. I'm sick of hearing about how disadvantaged and angry the rioters and looters were.
Do you want to know who's truly disadvantaged in this country? It's the people, both black and white, who get up every morning and go to work to put food on the table and feed their families. These are the people who are truly disadvantaged because we are the ones who have pay for the all these programs for the so-called "disadvantaged" in Baltimore City and surrounding areas.
Mark Wilson, Fallston