By Baltimore’s plan for peace after violent uprisings in April: buy out protestors.
In what seems like a political maneuver to calm any potential tension, Baltimore officials approved a $6.4 million wrongful death settlement last week with the family of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old black man who suffered a fatal spinal injury as a result of trauma sustained while in police custody in April.
The settlement is a hollow victory for the family and a cheap Band-Aid fixture of the underlying systemic issues associated with Gray’s death.
While not to ignore the financial benefits of the settlement for the family or their due measure of justice, no amount of money can bring them their beloved son back.
Further, the settlement admits no guilt of the persons involved, nor of the systemic failures that allowed this situation.
“The city’s decision to settle the civil case should not be interpreted as passing any judgment on guilt or innocence of the officers,” Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawling-Blake said during a news conference Wednesday. “This settlement is about making the right fiscal decision for the city of Baltimore.”
Following Gray’s death in April, Baltimore erupted in violent uprisings, and protesters took to the streets committing arson, clashing with law enforcement, looting and vandalizing.
“I’m going to be violent,” a 19-year-old protester said to BBC reporters on the scene back in April. “All that peace, I’m done with peace. I tried to be peaceful. These are our streets not theirs. They’re killing us.”
The violence resulted in major damages for 30 businesses and at least one home, with federal surveyors estimating $9 million in damages, according to Time Magazine.
Time also reported that city officials noted 61 structural fires and the burning of 44 vehicles and 15 buildings.
Six officers now face charges related to Gray’s death and Baltimore city officials are on edge as trial dates for the alleged offenders near.
The settlement is an attempt to safeguard against further violence in the event that the officers are not held accountable for their actions, a cheap fix for the immeasurable pains endured by Freddie Gray and the outcries of protesters who resonate with Gray’s experience.
“That could have been my son,” said Baltimore protestor Patricia Trousdale to BBC reporters, further saying that while she wants to respect the police she is fearful of them.
A settlement will not settle fear.
At it’s best it weakly alleviates without addressing the many underlying problems exposed by April’s uprisings.
Some of the underlying problems exposed include police discrimination of black citizens, severe economic inequality, a broken criminal justice system, excessive use of force by law enforcement, and lack of accountability and transparency.
Though the settlement may be in the best interest of the city fiscally, a settlement will not settle unrest and is not an appropriate recourse for justice.
Instead a thorough examination of the underlying problems, an open discussion, and practical tangible solutions are needed to keep the peace.
I would still love to know how this could be turned Into a racial issue? Why is the fact that the author finds Gray being black “relevant” but fails to mention three of the six cops arrested were also black?
Freddie Gray was a career drug dealer and there is no evidence to suggest his family should get $6 million dollars of the taxpayers’ money.