Arrested on Live TV - SSR

In the past few years, many riots and protests have broken out over the topic of police brutality. Is it truly police brutality or is it self defense? Or are they simply doing what they are told to do? Policemen undergo severe circumstances at times, risking their lives to help out their communities. Take 9/11 for example, not only firemen but policemen as well helped out after the collapses. Many New York policemen were up the whole night searching through the rubble of the fallen towers, searching for bodies, helping their fallen community. With the recent uproar over in Baltimore, many policemen are being injured from the riots breaking out all across the city over the death of Freddie Gray. They are being injured because they are simply doing their jobs. They are trying to help their community and the acknowledgements they receive is a riot. Is the rioting in Baltimore necessary? A simply protest, like that of the famous Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would suffice, far beyond any riot.

On Tuesday, April 28th, a man named Joseph Kent was arrested on live TV in Baltimore, for staying past curfew. According to the video, his attorney, Don Lemon, spoke for Kent on behalf of his peaceful protesting. Lemon stated that Kent was advising the media to go home, and that they shouldn't be there. Kent wasn't using any forceful actions as he walked on the streets with his hands up showing that he was harmless. In the video, nonetheless, Kent was then ambushed my policemen with riot shields, forcing him to the ground and arresting him. This video painted the wrong image of our policemen just doing their jobs. The policemen encountered citizens on the streets earlier in the day around the same area, who were throwing rocks at them and conflicting pain upon them. The police assumed that Kent was apart of this group so they saw him as a threat. Plus, Kent was out past the curfew that was issued all across Baltimore earlier in the week. The police force was accused of arresting an innocent man, however he wasn't as innocent as it seemed. Even though Kent had his hands raised signaling he meant no harm, he was still near the earlier group who were throwing things at the policemen, making Kent a suspect. Also, he was out past the curfew that was issued, making his more of a suspect, and to be arrested.

Was is wrong for the policemen to arrest this man? I believe that they had the right to, maybe not as brutally as they did, but they had to protect themselves. Kent was suspected to be affiliated with the earlier harmful group that were throwing things at the policemen, so the policemen had to protect themselves from any other possible rioters throwing objects at them. Also, the policemen were only doing what they were supposed to do. The services of Baltimore were issued to have everyone turned in before curfew, so no more harm was to occur. This was their objective, and that is why Kent was arrested. They were following orders and they were doing their job; the media depicted it incorrectly.

These riots have been occurring all throughout the great city of Baltimore and have spread into cities like Philadelphia. Buildings and cars are being set on fire; buildings and stores are being emptied from thieves; and many people, citizens and servicemen, are being injured daily because of these riots. Is a harmful riot the right way to protest against something you find unconstitutional? Is harming the policemen that protect your rights everyday a right way to express how you feel? Harmful actions isn't the answer to your everyday obstacles. The people of Baltimore need to realize this and the harm they are causing, to not only themselves, but also to their city.  They should sit down with their legislatures, talk about the problems they face everyday, discuss what they find unconstitutional, and settle it without rioting or using harmful actions against one another and their community. They are destroying themselves, without achieving any headway towards a peaceful conclusion. Go about the protest peacefully, without causing harm to your community and the people around you, who are your friends, neighbors, and family.