But did the Baltimore mayor say " investigators were working to identify the protesters and planned to bring criminal charges against them."?
Why leave that part out?
Because one part was a direct quote and the other was unattributed to anyone specific. Both set terrible precedents. Releasing statements like that will only embolden groups to show up in sufficient numbers that will cause officials to back down in the interest of 'public safety.' That may very well lead to something much more serious than the destruction of property. Over the weekend, that stance contributed to the death of one and injury of many. The Baltimore incident was summed up well by a Maryland professor.
"To say, 'Overwhelmingly, the demonstrations were peaceful and there was only one night of rioting,' is like saying, 'Right up until Lincoln got shot he had a great time at the play,' said Todd Eberly, an associate professor of political science at St. Mary's College of Maryland. "No one is focused on what happened before the rioting. The key is what happened once it became clear that the situation was out of control."
