How does disagreement with police actions or court decisions transition to, "Let's riot, loot and destroy our city?"

These are not protests. Protests have a reason and cause. This is revenge. They want others to suffer. They want to attack against the system. They don't want to change it or fix it. I feel bad for the family of the victim. They are seeing the loss of their son being turned into a excuse to pillage and riot. They are attacking anyone and everyone. Reporters are getting attacked. I looks like Iraq there. It is insane to see such things in our own country.

COL Charles Williams Sir, I am as much in the dark as you. I cannot begin to understand their reasoning here. This type of behavior does not further one's cause, rather it detracts from the intended message. Dr. King had the right approach at a time when the consequences were far greater (IMHO). Our constitution provides for peaceful protests, lately, these protests have been anything but peaceful.

COL Charles Williams Sir,
I think that it has to deal with a lack of leadership from the protesters. The non violent movements led by Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. were both well organized and had leadership that was able to keep the protesters in line. Today we don't see dynamic leaders leading these protests in a similar manner. A small portion of the protesters instigate the looting, and like a fire it spreads though the rest of the group unchecked.

I am having a difficult time empathizing with rioters, not peaceful protestors, but rioters. How is one raised to believe destroying one's own city is the answer? I don't live in Baltimore, MD, I have never lived there and I probably will never live there but why are they destroying their own city?

It's nice to know I'm not the only one who doesn't get this behavior. Thanks COL

Young people riot when their team wins national championship, so I wont say it is done exclusively for social rights or messages.

COL Charles Williams,

I try not to waste brain power on trying to "rationalize the irrational".

Nobody seems to be concerned with the numerous transgressions against society that Mr. Gray committed and as usual the focus is on the results of situations as apposed to looking at the real root causes that lead to Mr. Gray's death.

Here is Freddie's rap sheet.

March 20, 2015: Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance
March 13, 2015: Malicious destruction of property, second-degree assault
January 20, 2015: Fourth-degree burglary, trespassing
January 14, 2015: Possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute
December 31, 2014: Possession of narcotics with intent to distribute
December 14, 2014: Possession of a controlled dangerous substance
August 31, 2014: Illegal gambling, trespassing
January 25, 2014: Possession of marijuana
September 28, 2013: Distribution of narcotics, unlawful possession of a controlled dangerous substance, second-degree assault, second-degree escape
April 13, 2012: Possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, unlawful possession of a controlled dangerous substance, violation of probation
July 16, 2008: Possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession with intent to distribute
March 28, 2008: Unlawful possession of a controlled dangerous substance
March 14, 2008: Possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to manufacture and distribute
February 11, 2008: Unlawful possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance
August 29, 2007: Possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, violation of probation
August 28, 2007: Possession of marijuana
August 23, 2007: False statement to a peace officer, unlawful possession of a controlled dangerous substance
July 16, 2007: Possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, unlawful possession of a controlled dangerous substance (2 counts)

What bothers me about this is that the black community seems to justify the anger towards police and civil authority in general for Gray's death but not owning up to any of the responsibility in how the black community has failed Mr. Gray. Is being a young black 25 year old male arrested over 20 times a success story? No, yet it was allowed to happen with in the black community. Take this anger and channel it into positive change - fixed the single family home, challenge gangs on the streets, challenge gun violence, and the drug dealers and their idolized status. Tearing up the town only encourages apathy in investing and only further condemns these communities to be a refuge for drugs, gangs, violence, and decay.

http://video.foxnews.com/v/ [login to see] 001/baltimore-mom-smacks-son-for-throwing-rocks-at-police/

This Mother DOESN'T Agree!!