Wednesday, November 5, 2008

What the hell is up Baltimore?

Granted, I work in Emergency Services so I love cops, but looks like Baltimore police took offense to the peaceful riot rejoicing the election of new President Obama:

At least 16 arrested after election celebration in Charles Village

A group of at least 16 people, including a Johns Hopkins University professor, say they were wrongfully arrested during a spontaneous post-election celebration early this morning in Charles Village, while Baltimore police say officers acted to disperse a large, loud crowd after receiving complaints from neighbors.

None of those arrested, who gathered outside Baltimore's Central Booking and Intake Center after their release about 9 a.m. today, said any was charged with a crime. Some said they had been threatened with charges of inciting a riot and disorderly conduct, though they said the gathering of about 200 people was peaceful but loud.

"It was nonsense," said Aaron Goodfellow, 41, a professor in Hopkins' anthropology department. Goodfellow said he and a graduate student left an election night party after news broke that Sen. Barack Obama was elected president. They saw the gathering and stopped to participate, and both were later arrested, he said.

"It was just pure enthusiasm. There was no destruction of property," Goodfellow said. About the arrests, Goodfellow said: "It was out of control, excessive and, yeah, I'm really angry."
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The New Generation Has Begun

You can hear it in the streets. The mumble overheard in conversations, in conference rooms, cafeterias, the local deli. "I can't believe it... this is really happening... we are living in history... the first African American president... it is a new world." And right we are. November 4th, 2008 is the date to remember, and never has it been a better time to be in Washington, DC.

It was the happiest riot that the streets of America have ever seen. The march to the White House was of joy, liberation, and not to be cheesy, but it's true - love. Couples were kissing, friends were hugging, strangers were dancing and holding hands with each other. Thousands of students, professionals, residents, and other citizens joined together to chant those memorable three words, "YES WE DID!" The emotions spread throughout the air like electricity, conducted by the rain that continued to pour down on us.

Despite this great accomplishment over the race factor, a new battlefront has been brought upon us. Proposition 8 has been passed - gay marriage has been banned. Although it is a happy day for many Americans, the taste is still bittersweet.

I'm giving you fair warning - this is an exciting time, and I have never been more ecstatic in my entire life. But I can't help to think that our high expectations of this one man is doomed. He can't do it by himself. The true change doesn't come from one man. But he inspires us all, and I hope to God that it will be enough for us to ACT. We need to work together, fight ignorance, see people as humans, to truly be united as we were that one night in front of the White House.

Welcome to the new generation - it's going to be a fun ride.