Terrible.
The fire in East Baltimore. Dozens of people out here crying and in disbelief: "This is our church!" pic.twitter.com/2DTf1m7sia
— Yvonne Wenger (@yvonnewenger) April 28, 2015
CNN reports the senior center was newly built, part of Baltimore’s Southern Baptist church.
https://twitter.com/NoahCRothman/status/592858542706663427
Pastor Hickman: burning building was to be 60-unit affordable housing for seniors. "It hurts my heart," he says. pic.twitter.com/jYXuMMDtBx
— Jon Swaine (@jonswaine) April 28, 2015
Update: After I originally posted this, there was some skepticism on Twitter as to whether the fire was actually related to rioting. Local CBS affiliate and AP say yes, but others say no:
AP: quotes source saying massive East Baltimore fire IS connected to violence earlier today
— Kate Amara (@kateamaraWBAL) April 28, 2015
https://twitter.com/petersuderman/status/592870618799874048
I’ll keep this updated as it’s sorted out. Either way, I’m sure there will be a Kickstarter for this church soon.
Gov. Larry Hogan has activated the Maryland National Guard, and reporters are already seeing them on the streets, suggesting Hogan and the Guard may have been admirably on the ball prepping for this eventuality, ready when the Baltimore mayor’s call came in:
About 1,500 National Guardsmen and -women are currently on the streets in Baltimore.
— Ashley Voting's Good. There's More To Do. Southall (@AshleyAtTimes) April 28, 2015
There will no doubt be recriminations about the timing of the calling in of the Guard, so Hogan is at the ready with answers:
https://twitter.com/noahcrothman/status/592855226291507200
The mayor of Baltimore, after walking back her horrible or horribly worded sentiment that the city was giving “space” to those who “wish to destroy,” came out more forcefully today and issued a curfew… for tomorrow:
“What we see tonight that is going on in our city is very disturbing,” Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake told reporters. “Too many people have spent generations building up this city for it to be destroyed by thugs who — in a very senseless way — are trying to tear down what so many have fought for.”
She announced that the city will impose a mandatory curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. daily, effective for one week starting Tuesday. The mayor also promised to hold those responsible for the violence accountable.
More than two dozen people have already been arrested, according to Col. Darryl D. DeSousa with the Baltimore Police Department.
Meanwhile, one Baltimore mom (or other relative) delivered the symbolic slap pretty much everyone wanted to deliver unto punk looters and rioters. She caught a young man who’s presumably her son out in the madding crowds and got real mad. I know there are the sensitive among us who might object to this form of discipline, but I’m betting this kid is off the streets for the time being, and embarrassed on national TV in the process. Nicely done, Mom. The world was uncharacteristically united on Twitter in applauding her…forcefulness.
She wasn’t the only one. Freddie Gray’s family also had words for looters and rioters:
"This is not justice. This is just people finding a way to steal stuff," Carron Morgan, #FreddieGray's cousin, just told me.
— Kevin Rector (@kevrector) April 28, 2015
The Rev. Jamal Bryant emphasized that the family had asked even peaceful protesters to hold off until tomorrow, to give the funeral some space. He called the young people involved “inexcuseable…out of control.”
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