<div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.the-chesapeake.com//wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Right-on-target-commentary.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-5891" src="https://www.the-chesapeake.com//wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Right-on-target-commentary-300x94.jpg" alt="Right on target commentary" width="300" height="94" /></a>WHY ARE THEY RIOTING IN BALTIMORE?</span></strong></div>
<div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">by</span></strong></div>
<div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">COLONEL DONALD J. MYERS USMC (Ret)</span></strong></div>
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<div align="left"><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">I was born and raised in Baltimore until I enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1953. After I retired, I returned to the Baltimore area and remained for 15 years. Most of my large family still lives in the Baltimore area. I had two of my uncles retire as Baltimore policemen and several of my nephews have retired from the police force. I wrote weekly editorials for several years while I was in Baltimore and covered the various aspects of the city such as education and government.</span></strong></div>
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<figure id="attachment_8302" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8302" style="width: 300px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="https://www.the-chesapeake.com//wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Thugs-take-a-spring-break-on-police-car-in-Baltimore.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-8302" src="https://www.the-chesapeake.com//wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Thugs-take-a-spring-break-on-police-car-in-Baltimore-300x171.jpg" alt="Thugs take a spring break on police car in Baltimore" width="300" height="171" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-8302" class="wp-caption-text">Thugs take a spring break on police car in Baltimore</figcaption></figure>
<p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">I watched the riots</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="aBn" tabindex="0" data-term="goog_216897771"><span class="aQJ"><span style="font-size: large;">Monday</span></span></span><span class="Apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">night and also watched</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="aBn" tabindex="0" data-term="goog_216897772"><span class="aQJ"><span style="font-size: large;">on Tuesday</span></span></span><span class="Apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;">morning. I was amazed at the comments from local citizens. The basic premise was that the people were angry and they were tired of black men being routinely killed by policemen. They seemed to believe that it was a daily occurrence. The media seemed to contribute to this by supporting the premise that the rage was valid although it should not include looting and arson.</span></span></div>
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<div align="left"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">The city of Baltimore has had a democratic mayor since 1967. The police chief and his deputy are both black and the greatest percentage of the officers are also black. The state of Maryland has had a democratic governor since 1969 except for four years when Bob Ehrlich won the governorship. Seven of the eight delegates to the House of Representatives are democratic and both of the federal senators are democrats. The state of Maryland is one of the bluest if not the most blue in the country and it has been led by liberals for nearly 50 years.</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">The school system in Baltimore is struggling to say the least. The last time that I checked, the graduation rate for students who start high school and eventually graduation was less than 50 percent.</span></span></div>
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<div align="left"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">As an aside, President Obama stated that he was going to change our approach to dealing with Cuba because what we had been doing for the last 50 years apparently did not work. I suspect that the same could be said for Baltimore and many of our other large cities. They have been controlled by liberal democrats for decades and the policies that were implemented do not work. If the people in Baltimore want change, then they need to change the people in government. The Baltimore mayor stated</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="aBn" tabindex="0" data-term="goog_216897773"><span class="aQJ"><span style="font-size: large;">on Monday</span></span></span><span class="Apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;">that she was allowing distance so that those who wanted to destroy could do so. What kind of leadership is that? Later, she denied stating that and blamed the media for taking her comment out of context. There is absolutely no way that her comment could possibly be misunderstood. I listened to it several times.</span></span></div>
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<div align="left"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="aBn" tabindex="0" data-term="goog_216897774"><span class="aQJ"><span style="font-size: large;">On Monday</span></span></span><span class="Apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;">night, the police merely stood their ground and watched the rioters burn and steal. I suspect that they were under orders to let the events play out and not interfere for fear that it would increase the violence. I am sure that those officers who served in Iraq and Afghanistan had flashbacks about the “rules of engagement” when their hands were tied in dealing with the enemy.</span></span></div>
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<div align="left"><strong><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">When this finally abates, how many businesses will return to the area? The insurance costs alone will probably prevent many from doing so, and those that do will be forced to charge much higher prices to cover the additional costs of doing business. Most of this rioting can be attributed to poor information and in some cases a deliberate ploy to create chaos.</span></strong></div>
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<div><strong><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Donald Myers is a retired Marine Colonel and can be reached at</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span><a href="mailto:dmyersusmc@tampabay.rr.com" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">dmyersusmc@tampabay.rr.com</span></u></a></span></strong></div>
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<div><div id="metaslider-id-7985" style="max-width: 700px;" class="ml-slider-3-99-0 metaslider metaslider-flex metaslider-7985 ml-slider ms-theme-default" role="region" aria-label="Front pages" data-width="700">
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 <li style="display: block; width: 100%;" class="slide-7967 ms-image " aria-roledescription="slide" data-date="2015-03-18 00:40:54"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/CHESAPEAKE-TODAY-April-2014-Crime-ebook/dp/B00UUR2YCU/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&;ie=UTF8&;qid=1426748896&;sr=1-2" target="_self" aria-label="View Slide Details" class="metaslider_image_link"><img src="https://www.the-chesapeake.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/THE-CHESAPEAKE-TODAY-April-2014-fp-700x500.jpg" height="500" width="700" alt="" class="slider-7985 slide-7967 msDefaultImage" /></a><div class="caption-wrap"><div class="caption">If the people in Baltimore want change, then they need to change the people in government. The Baltimore mayor stated on Monday that she was allowing distance so that those who wanted to destroy could do so. What kind of leadership is that? Later, she denied stating that and blamed the media for taking her comment out of context. There is absolutely no way that her comment could possibly be misunderstood. I listened to it several times</div></div></li>
 <li style="display: none; width: 100%;" class="slide-7951 ms-image " aria-roledescription="slide" data-date="2015-03-14 11:17:33"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/CHESAPEAKE-TODAY-March-2015-Crime-ebook/dp/B00UOVCNJG/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&;ie=UTF8&;qid=1426748896&;sr=1-1" target="_self" aria-label="View Slide Details" class="metaslider_image_link"><img src="https://www.the-chesapeake.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/The-Chesapeake-Today-March-2015-All-Crime-All-The-Time-700x500.jpg" height="500" width="700" alt="" class="slider-7985 slide-7951 msDefaultImage" /></a><div class="caption-wrap"><div class="caption">If the people in Baltimore want change, then they need to change the people in government. The Baltimore mayor stated on Monday that she was allowing distance so that those who wanted to destroy could do so. What kind of leadership is that? Later, she denied stating that and blamed the media for taking her comment out of context. There is absolutely no way that her comment could possibly be misunderstood. I listened to it several times</div></div></li>
 <li style="display: none; width: 100%;" class="slide-7907 ms-image " aria-roledescription="slide" data-date="2015-03-08 05:59:07"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/CHESAPEAKE-TODAY-2014-Crime-Time-ebook/dp/B00UE6DFX4/ref=sr_1_8?s=digital-text&;ie=UTF8&;qid=1426748896&;sr=1-8" target="_self" aria-label="View Slide Details" class="metaslider_image_link"><img src="https://www.the-chesapeake.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/THE-CHESAPEAKE-TODAY-May-2014-web-336x239.jpg" height="500" width="700" alt="" class="slider-7985 slide-7907 msDefaultImage" /></a><div class="caption-wrap"><div class="caption">If the people in Baltimore want change, then they need to change the people in government. The Baltimore mayor stated on Monday that she was allowing distance so that those who wanted to destroy could do so. What kind of leadership is that? Later, she denied stating that and blamed the media for taking her comment out of context. There is absolutely no way that her comment could possibly be misunderstood. I listened to it several times</div></div></li>
 <li style="display: none; width: 100%;" class="slide-7905 ms-image " aria-roledescription="slide" data-date="2015-03-08 05:51:17"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/CHESAPEAKE-TODAY-June-2014-Crime-ebook/dp/B00UE3NSMA/ref=sr_1_9?s=digital-text&;ie=UTF8&;qid=1426748896&;sr=1-9" target="_self" aria-label="View Slide Details" class="metaslider_image_link"><img src="https://www.the-chesapeake.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/THE-CHESAPEAKE-TODAY-June-20141-700x500.jpg" height="500" width="700" alt="" class="slider-7985 slide-7905 msDefaultImage" /></a><div class="caption-wrap"><div class="caption">If the people in Baltimore want change, then they need to change the people in government. The Baltimore mayor stated on Monday that she was allowing distance so that those who wanted to destroy could do so. What kind of leadership is that? Later, she denied stating that and blamed the media for taking her comment out of context. There is absolutely no way that her comment could possibly be misunderstood. I listened to it several times</div></div></li>
 <li style="display: none; width: 100%;" class="slide-7902 ms-image " aria-roledescription="slide" data-date="2015-03-08 05:19:13"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/CHESAPEAKE-TODAY-August-2014-Crime-ebook/dp/B00UE25DDS/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&;ie=UTF8&;qid=1426748896&;sr=1-3" target="_self" aria-label="View Slide Details" class="metaslider_image_link"><img src="https://www.the-chesapeake.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/The-Chesapeake-Today-August-2014-700x500.jpg" height="500" width="700" alt="" class="slider-7985 slide-7902 msDefaultImage" /></a><div class="caption-wrap"><div class="caption">If the people in Baltimore want change, then they need to change the people in government. The Baltimore mayor stated on Monday that she was allowing distance so that those who wanted to destroy could do so. What kind of leadership is that? Later, she denied stating that and blamed the media for taking her comment out of context. There is absolutely no way that her comment could possibly be misunderstood. I listened to it several times</div></div></li>
 <li style="display: none; width: 100%;" class="slide-7864 ms-image " aria-roledescription="slide" data-date="2015-03-01 05:10:28"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/CHESAPEAKE-TODAY-September-2014-Crime-ebook/dp/B00U4NBCRS/ref=sr_1_4?s=digital-text&;ie=UTF8&;qid=1426748896&;sr=1-4" target="_self" aria-label="View Slide Details" class="metaslider_image_link"><img src="https://www.the-chesapeake.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/THE-CHESAPEAKE-TODAY-September-2014-700x500.jpg" height="500" width="700" alt="" class="slider-7985 slide-7864 msDefaultImage" /></a><div class="caption-wrap"><div class="caption">If the people in Baltimore want change, then they need to change the people in government. The Baltimore mayor stated on Monday that she was allowing distance so that those who wanted to destroy could do so. What kind of leadership is that? Later, she denied stating that and blamed the media for taking her comment out of context. There is absolutely no way that her comment could possibly be misunderstood. I listened to it several times</div></div></li>
 <li style="display: none; width: 100%;" class="slide-7903 ms-image " aria-roledescription="slide" data-date="2015-03-08 05:24:36"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/CHESAPEAKE-TODAY-July-2014-ebook/dp/B00UE3XP5U/ref=sr_1_7?s=digital-text&;ie=UTF8&;qid=1426748896&;sr=1-7" target="_self" aria-label="View Slide Details" class="metaslider_image_link"><img src="https://www.the-chesapeake.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/THE-CHESAPEAKE-TODAY-July-2014-700x500.jpg" height="500" width="700" alt="" class="slider-7985 slide-7903 msDefaultImage" /></a><div class="caption-wrap"><div class="caption">If the people in Baltimore want change, then they need to change the people in government. The Baltimore mayor stated on Monday that she was allowing distance so that those who wanted to destroy could do so. What kind of leadership is that? Later, she denied stating that and blamed the media for taking her comment out of context. There is absolutely no way that her comment could possibly be misunderstood. I listened to it several times</div></div></li>
 <li style="display: none; width: 100%;" class="slide-7860 ms-image " aria-roledescription="slide" data-date="2015-03-01 03:06:00"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/CHESAPEAKE-TODAY-November-2014-Crime-ebook/dp/B00U4MEPG4/ref=sr_1_10?s=digital-text&;ie=UTF8&;qid=1426748896&;sr=1-10" target="_self" aria-label="View Slide Details" class="metaslider_image_link"><img src="https://www.the-chesapeake.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/The-Chesapeake-Today-November-2014-700x500.jpg" height="500" width="700" alt="" class="slider-7985 slide-7860 msDefaultImage" /></a><div class="caption-wrap"><div class="caption">If the people in Baltimore want change, then they need to change the people in government. The Baltimore mayor stated on Monday that she was allowing distance so that those who wanted to destroy could do so. What kind of leadership is that? Later, she denied stating that and blamed the media for taking her comment out of context. There is absolutely no way that her comment could possibly be misunderstood. I listened to it several times</div></div></li>
 <li style="display: none; width: 100%;" class="slide-7859 ms-image " aria-roledescription="slide" data-date="2015-03-01 03:00:46"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/CHESAPEAKE-TODAY-December-2014-Crime-ebook/dp/B00U4KUVDC/ref=sr_1_6?s=digital-text&;ie=UTF8&;qid=1426748896&;sr=1-6" target="_self" aria-label="View Slide Details" class="metaslider_image_link"><img src="https://www.the-chesapeake.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/THE-CHESAPEAKE-TODAY-December-2014-700x500.jpg" height="500" width="700" alt="" class="slider-7985 slide-7859 msDefaultImage" /></a><div class="caption-wrap"><div class="caption">If the people in Baltimore want change, then they need to change the people in government. The Baltimore mayor stated on Monday that she was allowing distance so that those who wanted to destroy could do so. What kind of leadership is that? Later, she denied stating that and blamed the media for taking her comment out of context. There is absolutely no way that her comment could possibly be misunderstood. I listened to it several times</div></div></li>
 <li style="display: none; width: 100%;" class="slide-7861 ms-image " aria-roledescription="slide" data-date="2015-03-01 03:20:34"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/CHESAPEAKE-TODAY-October-2014-Crime-ebook/dp/B00U4M2YJE/ref=sr_1_5?s=digital-text&;ie=UTF8&;qid=1426748896&;sr=1-5" target="_self" aria-label="View Slide Details" class="metaslider_image_link"><img src="https://www.the-chesapeake.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/THE-CHESAPEAKE-TODAY-October-2014-700x500.jpg" height="500" width="700" alt="" class="slider-7985 slide-7861 msDefaultImage" /></a><div class="caption-wrap"><div class="caption">If the people in Baltimore want change, then they need to change the people in government. The Baltimore mayor stated on Monday that she was allowing distance so that those who wanted to destroy could do so. What kind of leadership is that? Later, she denied stating that and blamed the media for taking her comment out of context. There is absolutely no way that her comment could possibly be misunderstood. I listened to it several times</div></div></li>
 <li style="display: none; width: 100%;" class="slide-7845 ms-image " aria-roledescription="slide" data-date="2015-02-27 16:43:09"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/CHESAPEAKE-TODAY-January-2015-Crime-ebook/dp/B00U2HCGL2/ref=sr_1_11?s=digital-text&;ie=UTF8&;qid=1426748896&;sr=1-11" target="_self" aria-label="View Slide Details" class="metaslider_image_link"><img src="https://www.the-chesapeake.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Jan-2015-front-page-promo-700x500.jpg" height="500" width="700" alt="" class="slider-7985 slide-7845 msDefaultImage" /></a><div class="caption-wrap"><div class="caption">If the people in Baltimore want change, then they need to change the people in government. The Baltimore mayor stated on Monday that she was allowing distance so that those who wanted to destroy could do so. What kind of leadership is that? Later, she denied stating that and blamed the media for taking her comment out of context. There is absolutely no way that her comment could possibly be misunderstood. I listened to it several times</div></div></li>
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WHY ARE THEY RIOTING IN BALTIMORE? Opinion by Colonel Donald J. Myers USMC (Ret.)
Senior center fire at Gay and Federal Streets. Photo from WBAL