Free Republic

The Baltimore mom heralded for smacking her 16-year-old son at the Monday riots says she doesn't feel like a hero. In a CBS News exclusive, Toya Graham explained why she angrily confronted her son in an incident captured on a video that went viral. "To see my son come across the street with a rock in his hand, I think at that point, I just lost it," Toya Graham said Wednesday on "CBS This Morning." “He knew he was in trouble,” says Baltimore mom. The single mother of six was unofficially dubbed "mom of the year" by many on social...

Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) took to the House floor Tuesday night to urge African-American mothers follow the example of a Baltimore woman who forced her son to leave the city's riots. Video of Toya Graham slapping her son for participating in the Baltimore riots went viral. Rush, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, said mothers of African-American children should use their "awesome powers" to push back against violence. "I would like to make a special appeal to African-American mothers across this country. That they begin to use their awesome powers to take back our streets from the daily violence...

“I could see the objects being thrown at the police and I was like in awe. Like, ‘Oh my God, this is really happening right here with me,’” Toya Graham said. “Low and behold, I turn around and I look in this crowd and my son is actually coming across the street.” In a hoodie, Toya Graham knew her 16-year-old son, grabbing and hitting him—all while police and cameras surrounded her.

Things have gotten way out of control in Baltimore County following the death of Freddie Gray, but at least one mother is doing her best to make sure her son doesn’t get caught up in the rioting. Look what one CNN news crew caught live on camera: