Baltimore Police commissioner: 'This is not protesting... this is criminal acts'


Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony Batts said during a news conference late Monday night that 15 police officers were injured, six seriously, earlier in the day, although their injuries are not expected to be life-threatening.
The officers were hit by flying debris, including rocks, bottles, and sticks. "This is not protesting, this is not your First Amendment rights," he said. "This is criminal acts." He added he was "disappointed in the fact the damage has been done to these communities" and "disappointed we cannot be more responsible." He said the violence is embarrassing to the "beautiful" city of Baltimore, and asked that parents "take control of your kids."
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Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
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