Editorial: Frustration in Baltimore

The African-American community’s frustration with the police actions in Baltimore is at the root of the indignation behind the protests that degenerated in looting, fires, hundreds of arrests and injured police officers. Distrust towards the authorities is understandable, but the violence that induces criminal conduct is unacceptable.

The death of Freddie Gray, an African-American man under police custody, unlocked the same impotence felt in Ferguson, New York, Los Angeles and other cities across the nation confronted with the perception of abuse and then impunity of the police forces. Gray was arrested without a clear motive; during his transfer he apparently suffered a serious spinal cord injury that was ignored by the officers in spite of the detainee’s pleas for help. He died a few days afterwards.

The excessive use of violence by the police is already a familiar situation for this city. According to a report by the newspaper Baltimore Sun, between 2011 and last year the city was involved in 102 judicial decisions and out-of-court settlements linked to alleged civil and constitutional rights violations like illegal arrests. Those actions cost the Baltimore taxpayers more than $10 million between legal costs and victims compensations. The officers involved did not pay the consequences.

The worry is that a new, long investigation will again exonerate the police officers from any responsibility, turning the spotlight on whether this kind of investigation should be independent. Baltimore is a very different city from Ferguson, although the mistrust of courts is the same.

There is a serious crisis of trust between the communities of color and the police. This is harming the common effort between enforcement officers and civilians necessary to maintain public safety. An autonomous investigation of police actions would be a first step, and it should be followed by an independent attorney in case charges are pressed against an officer.

There is a search for justice in Baltimore that has nothing to do with vandalism, even though criminals and opportunists are taking advantage of the situation, not caring whether they harm the cause of the majority. The reprehensible actions of those individuals should not cloud what is a just popular clamor.