While the riots and looting in Baltimore have drawn reactions and prayers from around the world, being in the city itself offers a completely different vantage point from what’s on the news. The violence erupted following days of peaceful protests over the mysterious death of Freddie Gray on April 12 while the 25-year-old was in police custody.
Rihanna, Chuck D, ‘The Wire’ Stars & More React to Baltimore Riots
In the hours after the riots began Monday, many celebrities — including Rihanna and the stars of HBO’s Baltimore-set series The Wire — took to social media to react. Now, we take a look at what musicians who hail from Baltimore and the nearby Washington, D.C. — Blood Orange‘s Dev Hynes, Sisqo, Jada Pinkett Smith and many more — have to say following the headline-making violence:
No black man has ever been tried by a jury of his peers in America. And if that is so, and I know that is so, no black man has ever received
— Devonté Hynes (@devhynes) April 27, 2015
…a fair trial in this country. Therefore, I’m under no illusions about the reason why many black people are in prison. – James Baldwin
— Devonté Hynes (@devhynes) April 27, 2015
Pls pray for my City
— SisQó (@OfficialSisQo) April 28, 2015
Destroying your own damn neighborhoods…ain’t about Freddie gray At this point ppl are just stealing! Praying for my city
— Rye Rye (@RyeRye) April 28, 2015
I love that young soldiers r prepared to fight. But we have 2 do better job of showing what we are fighting 4 and who we are fighting.
— Bun B (@BunBTrillOG) April 28, 2015
Police sparked this situation, and not holding themselves accountable, escalated it. More police is not the answer. Who’s outnumbered?
— Future Islands (@futureislands) April 28, 2015
FUCK! THE LAST THING BALTIMORE NEEDS IS A RIOT -s
— SPANK&BLANK (@SpankandBlank) April 27, 2015
What happened to Freddie Gray????
— Jada Pinkett Smith (@jadapsmith) April 22, 2015
If you’re more outraged by rioting than you are by the police declaring open season on young black people, fuck you and your bs “peace” talk
— Frenchie Davis (@frenchiedavis) April 28, 2015
Thomas Jefferson said “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants” #BaltimoreRiots
— Patron the DepthMC (@PatrondaDepthMC) April 28, 2015
When the next crisis emerges elsewhere and the world no longer cares: we’ll still be doing the work here. Ur welcome to join us if its real.
— Labtekwon (@Labtekwon) April 28, 2015
Baltimore is disappointing me.
— Smokahontas (@AudraTheRapper) April 27, 2015