Pastor and Youth Leader Decries Baltimore Riots, and Points to Where the Anger Really Comes From

Aimee Herd : Apr 28, 2015
Christian News Network

"They're not gaining the sympathy of the American people with these types of actions... If anything, they're turning the people away from them."

(California)—President of the "Brotherhood Organization of a New Destiny" (BOND), leader of BOND Leadership academy for youth, and a California Pastor—Jesse Lee Peterson commented on the violent rioting that broke out Monday.

Peaceful protests had prevailed before and during the funeral for Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old who died earlier this month following his arrest. Then after the funeral, an angry mob began hurling rocks and cinder blocks at police, and full-blown rioting, destruction and looting took over.

Over a dozen police officers were reportedly injured, some severely, and the National Guard was called in as Gov. Larry Hogan declared a state of emergency, according to the Christian News report.

Pastor Peterson told Christian News, "These people are out there protesting what they call violence with violence," Peterson lamented. "That's not the way to solve a problem."

"They're not gaining the sympathy of the American people with these types of actions—by burning and looting and hurting police officers and throwing rocks at cops," he continued. "If anything, they're turning the people away from them."

Peterson put his finger on where the true anger began: "The anger that you see in black men... it started in the home first," he explained. "They're angry that their fathers are not there for them—because the father is the spiritual head of his wife and children. The father is the love of the family, and when that's gone, it creates anger."

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