The real News Network’s senior editor Paul Jay, civil rights attorney A. Dwight Pettit, and law professor Doug Colbert discuss the enforcement of the curfew, the militarization of policing and the legality of Freddie Gray’s arrest. They are interviewed by Jessica Desvarieux.
Video is shown of the militarized police enforcement of a civil disobedience action to enforce a curfew by National Guard troops and Baltimore Police in full riot gear. The protesters are sitting quietly after 10 PM and are surrounded by these militarized police who aggressively arrest them. The legality and effectiveness of the curfew are discussed. The panel also discusses the charges against six Baltimore police and the death of Freddie Gray as well as the circumstances leading up to the urban revolt in Baltimore after Gray was killed.
Jay discusses the likelihood that the use of the National Guard and militarized police was a dress rehearsal for the use of military force during a civil disturbance which he predicts will come in future years. Jay describes the militarized policing as not justifiable for any other reason. He also describes conversations with top enforcement officials who have described similar activities in Canada as practice for when an insurrection occurs in the future.