Page 12 - MIN.JUS MAY 21
P. 12
U.S. NEWS A5
Thursday 21 May 2015
Differing perceptions of Waco, Baltimore bothering some
JESSE J. HOLLAND ers have been charged gust and dismay as you did people over what hap- tests, some violent, that
Associated Press with engaging in organized over fires burning in Fergu- pened in Waco.” flared up around the po-
WASHINGTON (AP) — The crime, with bond at $1 mil- son and in Baltimore,” Lee Civil rights attorney Charles lice killings of black men,
prevailing images of pro- lion for each suspect. Mug said. “One of the things the F. Coleman Jr. said only most of which involved
tests in Baltimore and Fer- shots show an array of sus- protesters always said was minority communities get an overwhelmingly black
guson, Missouri, over police pects: white, Hispanic, a that while many of them blamed for violence, while crowd, were called “riots”
killings of black men were white woman and a man
of police in riot gear, hand- who looked black. A McLennan County deputy stands guard near a group of bikers in the parking lot of a Twin Peaks
cuffed protesters, tear gas Police said the fight started restaurant in Waco, Texas.
and mass arrests. The main because a vehicle rolled
images of a fatal gun bat- over a man’s foot. That (Rod Aydelotte/Waco Tribune-Herald via AP)
tle between armed bikers caused a dispute that
and police in Waco, Texas, continued inside the res- disagreed with the proper- no one blames white fami- while college and profes-
also showed mass arrests taurant, where fighting ty destruction, that you can lies or white communities sional sports championship
— carried out by noncha- and then shooting began, rebuild property. But you for fatal violence by white celebrations and losses
lant-looking officers sitting before the violence spilled can’t bring back people, men, characterizing such that turned violent, most
around calm bikers on cell- back outside, they said. and yet you’re not hearing events instead as “isolated of which involved an over-
phones. About 50 weapons were an equal amount of disgust incidents.” whelmingly white crowd,
The firefight in Waco is rais- confiscated, mostly knives from the media and from Coleman noted that pro- are not.q
ing questions about per- and firearms. However, po-
ceptions and portrayals of lice said a final count could
crime in America, consid- show there were more than
ering the vehement reac- 100 weapons.
tion that the earlier protests Officials said the nine dead
got from police, politicians were Bandidos and Cos-
and some members of the sacks members, ranging
public. in age from 27 to 65. Pre-
Unlike in Ferguson and liminary autopsy results
Baltimore, where protests showed all nine were killed
went on for days, there by gunshots.
was no live news coverage There were no deaths dur-
of the Waco shootout. And ing the Baltimore and Fer-
yet the incident at a Texas guson protests, yet people
restaurant hasn’t been immediately stereotyped
used as a bridge to discuss all of the protesters as
other issues about families, criminals, said Nicole Lee,
poverty and crime, media a human rights lawyer who
critics, columnists and civil worked with protesters in
rights activists say. both cities.
They complain that there “Nine people were killed in
appears to be little societal Waco, and yet you have
concern about the gun- not heard the level of dis-
play at a restaurant in Tex-
as, whereas politicians — US Capitol gyrocopter pilot facing 6 charges
including President Barack
Obama — described vio- JESSICA GRESKO federal court in Washing- are not consistent with the to call attention to the influ-
lent looters in Baltimore as WASHINGTON (AP) — A ton. damage,” he said ence of big money in poli-
“thugs,” and the media man who piloted a gyro- Hughes said in a telephone A federal public defender tics. The stunt also led to a
devoted hours of televi- copter through miles of interview Wednesday after- listed in the court’s online congressional hearing and
sion and radio airtime to America’s most restricted noon that he had arrived in record as representing exposed a gap in ensuring
dissecting social ills that af- airspace before landing at Washington and would be Hughes did not immedi- the safety of buildings in
fect the black community. the U.S. Capitol is now fac- making a statement after ately respond Wednesday the city.
On Twitter, #wacothugs ing charges that carry up his appearance in court. afternoon to a telephone The charges Hughes now
and #whiteonwhitecrime to 9½ years in prison. “We are looking at a case message and email re- faces include two felonies:
were trending, with colum- The U.S. attorney’s office where there was no injury questing comment. operating as an airman
nists around the nation de- for the District of Columbia and no property damage, Hughes, who took off from without an airman’s certifi-
bating the differences. said Wednesday in a state- and the requirements as southwestern Pennsylvania, cate and violating aircraft
The shootout at a Twin ment that a grand jury has far as what the prosecution was arrested April 15 after registration requirements.
Peaks restaurant in Waco indicted Douglas Hughes is asking for include years he landed on the Capitol’s Those charges carry a
left nine people dead and on six charges. He is sched- of jail time. The penalties West Lawn. Hughes has maximum of three years in
18 injured. About 170 bik- uled to appear Thursday in that they are demanding said his flight was intended prison. q
