I found the contrast between the Baltimore City Police Department's tweet on Monday April 27 and the actions of avowed gang members during the riots that occurred later that evening to be quite interesting and frankly, disturbing.
Where the Baltimore City Police Department's Media Relations section saw fit to widely distribute an alarmist bulletin, it appears that many local members of Bloods, Crips and Black Guerrilla Family gangs took it upon themselves to try to calm the tensions that boiled over in our city Monday evening ("Baltimore descends into chaos, violence, looting," April 28). Indeed, local clergy attempting to build peace went out of their way to acknowledge the efforts of gang members to calm our city and several gang members went so far as to appear on television denying the police department's contention and calling for calm. It seems fairly clear that this tweet was transparent propaganda.
I can only wonder what else the department and Commissioner Anthony Batts have been lying about over the past week (and beyond). It seems the most dangerous gang in town might be wearing badges in place of colors. Hopefully, the city administration can take a tip from these young men.
Michael Johnson