NFL’s Benjamin Watson Facebook Post on Baltimore Riots: ‘I See a Brokenness That Only Christ Can Give Us Wisdom and Power to Mend’

Some amazing and reflective words from the NFL’s  New Orleans Saints Tight End Benjamin Watson …

On reflecting on the riots in Baltimore, Christian professional football player Benjamin Watson wrote, “I see a brokenness that only Christ can give us the wisdom and power to mend.”

Commenting on the devastating violence that took place on Monday in Baltimore, outspoken Christian professional football player Benjamin Watson explained that the pain, anger and tension that the city and its residents are experiencing can only be healed through the power of Christ.

Watson noted that Baltimore is not the first city to go through a violent uprising over police negligence, and likely won’t be the last. He further asserted that the problems Baltimore faces right now are shared by the nation as a whole.

NFL’s Benjamin Watson Talks About Baltimore Riots On Greta Van Sustern

FACEBOOK:

We have major problems as a nation. Yesterday Ferguson burned. Tonight ?#?Baltimore? burns. Tomorrow it will be another city in our homeland. Watching the coverage I’m hearing yet another version of a nauseatingly familiar narrative. Violence by police reciprocated by violence by the community, reciprocated by violence by police reciprocated by…. It seems fruitless to continue to analyze, condemn, and respond to these dreadful episodes. “Frustration, anger, tension boiling over, upset and unfortunate” are words we hear from Baltimore residents. When it comes to law enforcement, race, poverty, education, immigration we always talk about fixing “broken” systems. We resolve to legislate for education, job creation, and systemic overhaul. These are helpful and definitely needed BUT we have done all of these things ad nauseum and look at us!! Without a change of heart these attempts fail us. So what can we say? What can we do? Systems are broken because people are broken and if systems are fixed without hearts being changed the result will be a legalistic attempt that will lack long term results. Our problems are wholistic and common to the human heart. Hatred, prejudice, exploitation, pride, self righteousness, secrecy, and rebellion, manifest itself in the explosions we’ve seen over the last year, the last century, and the last millennia.

Tonight I see so much entrenched pain without remedy. Most are handling it without violence while a few are committing the unacceptable.
Tonight I see young children, asking like my daughter did earlier, “What’s happening daddy”, in desperate need of parents to walk them through these disturbing scenes.
Tonight I see “smoke,” but we must address the fire. The response that we are watching is just “smoke” from years of hopelessness. After each situation the more I am convinced that the love of God for our fellow brothers and sisters who were created in His image, is our only hope for reconciliation. But the only way we can even see him that way is if God illuminates our view and changes our thought process. I’m not talking about holding hands and singing. Love is an action that compels one to treat another with dignity and respect even if they don’t deserve it. It pushes for education and opportunities for those in poverty. It gives identity and self worth. It administers justice without abuse. It honors authority and promotes peace. It is not weak, but strong for what is right!
Tonight I see a brokenness that only Christ can give us the wisdom and power to mend.

We pray for every disaster that happens to us. Bombings, natural disasters, cancer and outbreaks. What we’ve seen in our country lately deserves that same attention. Our attempts to fix this have fallen short.
We, and most importantly, the body of Christ, must stand for justice in all areas, for all people. We must set the standard for the correct way to treat people.

Tonight I pray for the pastors, leaders, police and community of Baltimore.
Tonight I ?#?PrayForAmerica?.

Riots, Looting and Lawlessness Hit Baltimore following Funeral of Freddie Gray (VIDEO) (Update: Police Injured, Senior Center Burned to the Ground)

RIOTS AND LOOTING ROCK BALTIMORE …

Following the events in Baltimore, MD over the weekend, it was not hard to predict what would happen on Monday following the funeral of Freddie Gray, unless you were the Mayor of Baltimore. Just hours after the funeral of 25 year old Freddie Gray, who died in police custody after suffering a spinal cord injury, all hell broke loose in Baltimore. The so-called peaceful protests turned into lawlessness, rioting, looting and violence Monday afternoon and into the night as stores were burned and looted, bottles, bricks and stones were thrown at the police, injuring at least 15 police officers.

The VIDEO below shows the looting and eventual burning of the CVS store in West Baltimore. So this was justified by the death of Freddie Gray while in police custody that is being investigated. Hardly, some thugs just needed the excuse. Tell me, why would CVS ever want to rebuild this store? How about the mom and pop stores that were trashed and burned, who probably lost their livelihoods.

CVS Pharmacy Looted

Violence swept through pockets of a low-income section of West Baltimore on Monday afternoon as scores of rioters heaved bottles and rocks at riot-gear-clad police, set police cars on fire, and looted a pharmacy, a mall and other businesses. At least 15 officers were injured.

Images of the violence were broadcast nationwide just hours after Freddie Gray was eulogized at his funeral, and Gray’s family and clergy members called for calm. Gray died of an injury he suffered while in police custody.

The rioting did not appear to stem from any organized protests over Gray’s death.

Police from surrounding communities were called in to help. Gov. Larry Hogan (R) declared a state of emergency in the city and activated the National Guard. The troops were in Baltimore before midnight.

The officers were injured — some with broken bones and at least one rendered unconscious — shortly after the violence began about 3 p.m. Two officers remained hospitalized late Monday; they had been hit with items thrown mostly by school-age youths, police said. Officers in full riot gear were pelted with rocks and bottles as they moved in to arrest some of the dozens of young people who had assaulted them.

Mobs destroyed police cars, started several small fires, and invaded a check-cashing agency and sought to break into its ATM. Looters carried off armloads of merchandise from liquor stores and a CVS pharmacy at Pennsylvania and North avenues that also was set ablaze. By nightfall, 27 people had been arrested.

Take a good look at what happens when you have a complete and lack of leadership

(Warning – adult language)

UPDATE I: Riots erupt across West Baltimore, downtown.

Violence and looting overtook much of West Baltimore on Monday, injuring more than a dozen police officers and leaving buildings and vehicles in flames.

As night fell, looters took to Mondawmin Mall and a Save-A-Lot and Rite Aid in Bolton Hill, loading up cars with stolen goods. About 10 fire crews battled a three-alarm fire at a large senior center under construction at Chester and Gay streets, as police officers stood guard with long guns.

About 10 p.m., police confirmed shots were fired at an officer in the area of Virginia Avenue and Reisterstown Road in Northwest Baltimore. The officer was not hit and the suspect fled.

Fifteen police officers were injured in a clash with school-age children that began around 3 p.m., and two remain hospitalized, police Col. Darryl DeSousa said in a press conference Monday night. Earlier, police spokesman Capt. Eric Kowalczyk said one officer was unresponsive and others suffered broken bones.

Police arrested 27 people, DeSousa said.

UPDATE II: Senior Center Built by Baptist Church Up in Flames in Baltimore Riots.

The Family of Michael Brown Plans To File Law Suit Against Ferguson, MO For Wrongful Death

FRIVOLOUS LAW SUITS MATTER …

The family of Michael Brown, the 18 year old black teen that was shot by a white police officer, is planning on filing a law suit against Ferguson for wrongful death. HUH?The formal announcement is expected Thursday morning in St. Louis. Id the Brown family looking for strike 3?   A grand jury has already refused to indict police officer  Darren Wilson in the shooting death of the so-called “Gentle Giant”, see below pic of Brown in a strong armed robbery of a store clerk for a box of cigars. Then, Eric Holder and the Justice Department dropped the civil law suit against officer Wilson as there was no there, there to charge Wilson on racial bias.

Does some one need to remind the Brown family that “Hands Up, Dont’ Shoot” was based upon a lie? Trust me, if Eric Holder could not get a scalp with his DOJ investigation of officer Wilson, there is nothing there. In fact, the DOJ investigation showed that all of the credible witnesses corroborated officer Wilson’s events of what happened. The family may want to really just let this go as they may do even more harm than good to the legacy of Michael Brown.

Lawyers for the parents of Michael Brown, the unarmed, black 18-year-old who was fatally shot by a white police officer in a St. Louis suburb, announced Wednesday night that they planned to file a civil lawsuit the following day against the city of Ferguson.

Attorneys for the family said in a statement Wednesday night that the wrongful death lawsuit would be filed Thursday. The lawsuit had been expected. Attorneys for Brown’s mother, Lesley McSpadden, and his father, Michael Brown Sr., announced at a press conference in early March that a wrongful death lawsuit would be filed “soon.” Attorneys said at the time that the lawsuit would also name former Officer Darren Wilson, who shot Brown.

Bored Teen, 17 Year Old Chancey Allen Luna Found Guilty of First Degree Murder of Christopher Lane

WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE FROM THIS BLACK ON WHITE CRIME, THRILL KILL?

17 year old Chancey Allen Luna has been found guilty of first degree murder in the shooting death of 22 year old Christopher Lane now faces life in prison without parole. Good riddance. It is too bad he was not given the death penalty. If everyone remembers, the three teens claimed that they killed Christopher Lane in a random drive by shooting because they were bored. Chancey Allen Luna was convicted of the first degree murder for the August 16, 2013 shooting of Australian college baseball player Christopher Lane. During the murder trial. Luna did not testify in his own defense, the only witness called by the defense was his mother, Jennifer Lunda. She stated that her son lived with her parents after he was born and that his father is in jail. Looks like the apple has not fallen far from the tree.

Thrill Kill Thugs – James Francis Edwards Jr. (left), Chancey Allen Luna (middle), Michael Dewayne Jones (right)

An Oklahoma teen accused of fatally shooting an Australian college baseball player in a random drive-by shooting sparked by boredom has been found guilty of first-degree murder.

Chancey Allen Luna, 17, now faces life in prison without parole for the Aug. 16, 2013 shooting with two friends that his defense attorneys argued was only meant to scare his victim, Christopher Lane.

Instead the single bullet pierced the 22-year-old in his back as he was jogging in his girlfriend’s Duncan neighborhood.

The fate of the other two dirt bags who took part in this heinous crime.

The vehicle’s driver, Michael Jones, previously plead guilty to second-degree murder for his role in the attack and was sentenced to life behind bars with the possibility of parole.

James (Bug) Edwards Jr., who was a passenger in the car when it swerved toward Lane, testified as part of a plea deal.

According to the Daily News, Charlatan Al Sharpton ‘Circus’ Not Welcome by Family of Murdered Walter Scott Family

The Daily News is reporting that the family of slain Walter Scott does not want any part of the Al Sharpton 3-ring circus and he is not welcome. Imagine that, the family of 50 year old Walter Scott, a black man who was shot in the back by a white police officer after a traffic stop does not want any part of Al Sharpton and his traveling race-baiting show to exploit his death. That was the message from the family of South Carolina police shooting victim Walter Scott to the civil rights activist charlatan Thursday, two days before the funeral for the slain father of four. The family did not want Walter Scott’s death turn into the circus that followed the death of Michael Brown in Missouri. Hopefully, they will not fall to pressure and keep that same request. 33 year old police officer, now former officer as he has been fired, Michael T. Slager, has been charged with murder.

Who, me use tragedy for my own gain?

Hoping to avoid a Ferguson, Mo.-style “circus,” the family of alleged police shooting victim Walter Scott doesn’t want the Rev. Al Sharpton to attend the funeral, according to the Daily News.

“We don’t want another Ferguson type of circus here,” a source close to the Scott family in South Carolina was quoted as saying in the Daily News.

The family reportedly was referring to Rev. Sharpton’s speech at the funeral for Michael Brown, who was fatally shot by a police officer in Ferguson. That officer wasn’t charged in the incident, sparking numerous protests.

UPDATE I: Rev. Al Sharpton: Yes, I am welcome at funeral for Walter Scott.

Of course, Al Sharpton has to make the death of Walter Scott about him and has refuted the claim that he was not welcome.

The Rev. Al Sharpton has refuted a Daily News report that says the family of shooting victim Walter Scott does not want him to attend his funeral in South Carolina.

The family reportedly was referring to Rev. Sharpton’s speech at the funeral for Michael Brown, who was fatally shot by a police officer in Ferguson, Mo. The officer wasn’t charged in the incident, sparking numerous protests.

Patrolman Michael Thomas Slager has been charged in connection with the death of Scott, who was shot while allegedly fleeing from a traffic stop in North Charleston, S.C., on Saturday.

“Today’s Daily News story is bogus and has no merit,” Rev. Sharpton said in release Friday, adding that he has been invited to preach and help local clergy lead a healing prayer vigil on Sunday in North Charleston.

“There has never been a discussion about me attending or participating in the funeral on Saturday, since everyone knows that NAN’s convention with thousands of delegates is happening in New York and doesn’t end until Saturday night,” Rev. Sharpton said of the conference at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel in Manhattan.

“I have not decided whether or not I will accept the invitation to preach in North Charleston and participate in the prayer vigil on Sunday,” Rev. Sharpton said. “However, I am told the mayor and police chief have said that if I do choose to come they will attend the service as we seek healing and justice in these matters.”