The Mess in Baltimore

Something clearly went badly wrong last year in Baltimore. On April 12 police arrested 25 year old Freddie Gray. He suffered traumatic injuries while being transported and ultimately died. Clearly one or more police officers did something that caused his injuries. That person or persons should certainly be prosecuted.
Riots broke out. The mayor, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, said “we also gave those who wished to destroy space to do that as well”. Rioters were allowed to do as they wished while police were held back.
Prosecutor Marilyn Mosby filed felony charges against six officers. It certainly seemed like a rush to judgement and was hard to believe that all six officers committed felonies. The mayor basically declared them guilty by saying there was no place in the city for those engaging in violence, brutality and racism.
The aftermath has not been pretty. Many businesses have been destroyed and homicide rates have skyrocketed. So far there have been two trials resulting in a hung jury and an acquittal. Hopefully there will be no further violence.
This should be a lesson to other mayors and prosecutors. A city is done irreparable harm if its public officials pander to mobs.