Baltimore Rising Page #12

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really, really bad

really fast...

or it's gonna be

hundreds of years

of the same and, either way,

I f***ing refuse.

- The Justice

Department has released

a scathing report on the

Baltimore Police Department

which found

routine discrimination

towards African Americans,

rampant use

of excessive force...

all without

proper accountability

for misconduct.

- Representatives

from the Department of Justice

are here

and they are listening.

If you haven't read the report,

you must read the report.

Why?

Because I've read

a few of these, and this is

pretty much the worst

I've ever read.

- One gentleman,

who's over 50 years old,

African American, was stopped

more than 30 times

during the five-year period

that we looked at.

That makes us very concerned

that those stops were not

on the basis

of reasonable suspicion,

but instead were being done

under unconstitutional grounds.

We want the police and

the community to work together,

and we need to try and start

rebuilding that relationship.

- The last time I checked,

the DOJ is a part

of the system.

It's the DOJ, it's the FOP,

and it's our elected officials,

and we as citizens are

not there at the table

as that thing

is being negotiated.

- My suggestion for solutions

to the DOJ is that

none of these reforms

and band-aids that are gonna

happen should give more money

to the Baltimore City

Police Department.

- Let me say this:

I'm begging you

to work with this process.

This is the only one we got.

- We met with you, Congressman.

We told you what was going on

in this city.

People in this room should

be ashamed of yourself!

- 'Cause we're here tonight

giving y'all

our big, fat, "I told you so's."

So go back and hold all of

these entities accountable,

because you cannot do it

just with the police.

- The law enforcement,

police department...

we shoulder all

the woes of society.

So I think when

the rest of government

and the rest of society

realizes their role

in public safety...

that's where housing,

employment, education

comes into play...

'cause if folks are waiting

for the police departments

of America to do it,

they're gonna be out of luck.

- I'm encouraged.

I'm encouraged about Baltimore.

Um... there's been

a great awakening,

especially with

the DOJ coming in.

This will sound very odd,

but it almost took

this uprising

to wake us up.

- I won't say nothing

came out of this.

There's changes

in the police force.

New protocol was made

all because of the death

of Freddie.

So I don't think

his death was a waste.

I think Freddie was

more so a martyr.

- It's always hard

for me to say

that Freddie Gray

gave me a platform

to do anything.

- No justice, no peace!

- But also,

the Baltimore uprising

gave me space

to explore my politics,

and I think it did that

for a lot of people.

And I think it produced

a lot of healing.

- It's not about

what you do with your life,

but it's about

the legacy that you leave.

Freddie Gray was a dope boy.

He had lead paint poisoning.

But Freddie Gray

sparked a movement

and a radicalization,

and forced young people

into the streets.

So Freddie will always

be remembered

as somebody that sparked

an uprising

inside of our minds,

and I think that's

the most powerful thing

that we can do...

is keep fighting for that.

- We have seen and lost

young warriors

Never thought

that we'd be here

But I'm encouraged

by your strength and power

Yeah, you show up

and you still care

I'm amazed by

all your courage, I am

I feel your prayers

when I am floating away

Many communities have

come together with me

With only unity,

peace, and equality

- Many communities have

come together

Things aren't the same,

I've seen you cry

The sun will shine

in your eyes

I'm here to make things

better

I'm here to be your shelter

Many communities

who come...

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