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With massive violence spreading in Baltimore on Monday, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake is under fire for a statement she made over the weekend indicating that she ordered the city's police to give people the "space" to destroy property."I've made it very clear that I work with the police and instructed them to do everything that they could to make sure that the protesters were able to exercise their right to free speech," Rawlings-Blake said in a press conference."It's a very delicate balancing act, because, while we tried to make sure that they were protected from the cars and the other...

Baltimore mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake made a stunning admission Saturday in the aftermath of violent protests over the recent death of Freddie Gray, saying she wanted to give space to those “who wished to destroy.”And destroy, some did.Numerous storefronts and vehicles were damaged and businesses were looted at the tail end of a day of demonstrations. Thirty-four people were arrested and six police officers suffered minor injuries. Baseball fans attending a game at Camden Yards were told to stay inside the ballpark until violence outside of the stadium subsided.“I’ve made it very clear that I work with the police and...

During a Saturday briefing, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said her city government “gave those who wished to destroy space to do that,” seemingly approving of the rioters who smashed the city’s police vehicles in the wake of the death of Freddie Gray.

At his Friday press conference, Malik Z. Shabazz, itinerant inciter of outrage from the Washington, D.C.–based Black Lawyers for Justice, warned Baltimore that, to protest the mysterious death of Freddie Gray, “a wave will roll downtown to City Hall.” He forgot to mention that it was a crime wave. In a 79-second clip filmed by a female Russia Today reporter, one young man (“Rest in peace to my man, Freddie G”) is joined by two other young men (“F*** the police”), who are joined by several other young men, each of whom, shouting, displays his middle finger to the...

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake offered up regrets on “Meet The Press” Sunday for saying space was given to protesters in Baltimore who “wished to destroy.” Rawlings-Blake told host Chuck Todd that she “certainly used the wrong phrase,” of which she received roundabout criticism as the riots escalated Monday.

The Baltimore Police Union is demanding public records of radio transmissions and email notifications to prove the leadership in the Baltimore Police Department, specifically Police Chief Batts, told officers NOT to stop the riots and looting. Facing the probability the police union is going to succeed in their endeavor to put sunlight upon the truth the Mayor, Police Chief Batts and his leadership team are now having to admit they did tell the officers to ‘stand down’. You can listen to some of the audio transmission here. ...and questions have been raised about why Mayor Rawlings-Blake and Chief Batts would...

Protests over the death of Freddie Gray, who died in police custody, took a violent turn on Saturday, resulting in dozens of arrests and widespread property damage. During a recent press conference, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake confirmed that the protesters were being given “space” to “destroy.” “While we tried to make sure that they were protected from the cars and the other things that were going on,” the mayor said of the protesters. “We also gave those who wished to destroy space to do that as well. And we work very hard to keep that balance and to put ourselves in...

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake was under intense pressure Tuesday morning to defend her response to the violence that has ripped apart her city following the funeral of Freddie Gray, a young black man who died after being in police custody -- particularly Rawling-Blake's remarks in which she suggested those who "wished to destroy" need their space. With more than a dozen officers injured in clashes with rioters and looters, some -- including Maryland's governor -- are questioning whether Rawlings-Blake should have acted sooner and taken a tougher tone to prevent the demonstrations from getting out of control.

Baltimore has erupted in chaos ever since Freddie Gray died in police custody after being arrested on drug suspicions. It’d gotten so bad that the violent rioters protesters exercising their first amendment rights were so passionately violently rioting exercising their first amendment rights, people weren’t allowed to leave the Orioles/Red Sox game… because of all the violent rioting free speech that was going on outside. Thankfully, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake held a news conference to urge calm…

In what is a pretty unbelievable admission, the Mayor of Baltimore Stephanie Rawlings-Blake admitted in a press conference that she gave instructions for police to protect protesters, including “those who wished to destroy,” and to give them some space.Watch below her comment beginning at the 7:30 mark:(video at link) Now keep in mind that Baltimore told people that they needed to stay in a ball park because they couldn’t control the protesters. SO they illegally detained law-abiding citizens in order to “give space” to those wanted to criminally destroy Baltimore. Welcome to ObamaLand, everybody! Coming to a neighborhood near you!

During a Baltimore-based radio talk show on Thursday, a man who identified himself as a Baltimore police officer named “Jeff” called into the program and said fellow police officers were organizing to push out the city’s mayor. “There is right now over 50 of us officers who are immediately asking for [Baltimore Mayor] Stephanie Rawlings-Blake to step down for what she did to us Monday,” the caller told WBAL radio host Derek Hunter. The Baltimore mayor has denied giving “stand down” orders and blamed the media for misinterpreting her comments about providing “a space” for protesters to loot. “Any other...

BALTIMORE - The president of Baltimore City's police union says Police Commissioner Anthony Batts felt it was necessary to apologize for some of the things that happened, and didn't happen, on the day of the riots one month ago. Batts addressed a crowded meeting of the FOP Lodge #3 membership Tuesday night, but he left without answering any questions from police or the media. FOP President Gene Ryan says he wrote down some of what the commissioner said. “Some of his quotes were 'I let you guys down. I apologize to every man and woman in this room because I...

Despite a firm denial by Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, a senior law enforcement source charges that she gave an order for police to stand down as riots broke out Monday night, raising more questions about whether some of the violence and looting could have been prevented. The source, who is involved in the enforcement efforts, confirmed to Fox News there was a direct order from the mayor to her police chief Monday night, effectively tying the hands of officers as they were pelted with rocks and bottles. Asked directly if the mayor was the one who gave that order, the...

As protests continued to escalate this weekend over the death of Freddie Gray, whose spine was allegedly severed while in police custody, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake made the unlikely request that her police department “give those who wished to destroy space to do that.” This concept was expectedly mind-blowing to Rush Limbaugh, who called it “one of the most disqualifying statements ever made by a politician,” adding, “I mean, there’s no rational explanation for that.” The conservative radio host went on to say, “I don’t pretend to know what goes on in Stephanie Rawlings-Blake’s mind.” But then, he quickly added,...

If you want to create “Space to Destroy”, why not go all the way? Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlins-Blake is all about creating “Space to Destroy” for misguided youth. But most of Baltimore still hasn’t been destroyed. It’s time to bring in the talented folks who destroyed Syria to get the job done. Ann at the invaluable Refugee Resettlement Watch blog has the story. Islamic Relief USA is helping immigrants and refugees to find promising opportunities as instruments of economic and community growth in Baltimore. Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlins-Blake recognized the successes of this program at a local film screening this...

WASHINGTON — After Baltimore’s first round of rowdy protests on Saturday, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake came under fire for saying that the city gave people “who wished to destroy” space to do so. “I worked with the police and instructed them to do everything that they could to make sure that the protesters were able to exercise their right to free speech,” Rawlings-Blake said to the media Saturday evening. “It’s a very delicate balancing act because while we tried to make sure that they were protected from the cars and the other things that were going on, we also gave...

With the violence sweeping Baltimore threatening to scare away tourists and the city's huge convention industry, officials are working overtime to build in new security around the downtown convention center and promising to keep people safe.

The Baltimore riots are occurring in the face of failed political and police leadership and Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake should resign, Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton writes in a social media posting that is being echoed by dozens nationwide. In the Twitter posting Fitton links a disturbing local newspaper report with graphic photos of a burning car, police clad in riot gear and masked looters. “Violence and looting overtook much of West Baltimore on Monday, injuring more than a dozen police officers and leaving buildings and vehicles in flames,” the article opens. “As night fell, looters took to Mondawmin Mall and...

Complete Headline: Baltimore Officials: Peaceful Protesters Torched 61 Buildings, Damaged 350 Businesses, Injured 113 Officers The Joys of Democratic Leadership… Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake told reporters after a night of looting and fires that city officials gave the violent Freddie Gray protesters “space” to destroy property. Video of Democrat Mayor announcing her giving looters space to destroyBoy, did she ever! Baltimore officials upped their tally of destroyed and torched businesses this week. ** At least 61 buildings were torched. ** Over 144 vehicles were torched. ** 350 businesses were damaged ** And 113 police officers were injured.

As the rioting grew fiercer in Baltimore following the funeral of Freddy Grey on Monday, the Obama administration issued statements vowing to end the violence. (snip) The readout also noted that Obama had spoken with Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. “The President highlighted the Administration’s commitment to provide assistance as needed and will continue to receive updates on the situation from Attorney General Lynch and White House Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett,” the White House explained, adding that Jarrett had spoken with Maryland Governor Larry Hogan earlier in the day. Jarrett also spoke with Democratic Congressman Elijah Cummings of Maryland, from Baltimore,...