Baltimore Riots Prompt Celebrity Reactions
From "The Wire" creator David Simon to Chris Rock and Kevin Hart, stars speak.
— -- Celebrities are speaking out about the violence that erupted in Baltimore after the funeral of Freddie Gray Monday afternoon.
Gray, 25, died earlier this month from injuries he sustained after being arrested by police, officials said.
"The Wire" creator and former Baltimore Sun reporter David Simon was among those urging peace.
"The anger and the selfishness and the brutality of those claiming the right to violence in Freddie Gray's name needs to cease," he wrote in a blog post Monday evening.
"There was real power and potential in the peaceful protests that spoke in Mr. Gray's name initially, and there was real unity at his homegoing today. But this, now, in the streets, is an affront to that man's memory and a diminution of the absolute moral lesson that underlies his unnecessary death," he said.
He pleaded with protestors to go home. "If you can't seek redress and demand reform without a brick in your hand, you risk losing this moment for all of us in Baltimore," he wrote.
The city is under a state of emergency with about 500 National Guard troops assisting law enforcement. Numerous fires were reported overnight and Baltimore police reported people throwing cinder blocks at fire engines as firefighters worked to extinguish the flames. Fifteen police officers were also injured, six of them seriously, during Monday's violence.
For "Soul Food" star Nicole Ari Parker, the violence hits home.
I know. It's crazy. Not just my hometown but my neighborhood. #destroyed #familyonlock #BaltimoreRiots https://t.co/Pa9v0Gxhyf
Fellow Baltimore native Carmelo Anthony made an impassioned plea to the protestors in his hometown.
"Let's build our city up not tear it down," he wrote on Instagram. "Although, we want justice, let's look at the real issues at hand. For example, When was the last school built in Baltimore? That's just one example. I know my community is fed up. I'm all about fighting for what we believe in. The anger, the resentment, the neglect that our community feels right now, will not change over night. Continue, fighting for what you believe in. But remember, it takes no time to destroy something. But, it can take forever to build it back up. Peace7."
Holly Robinson Peete, who earlier reached out to Parker, also tweeted:
Yes. Baltimore (and so many other urban cities) have decades long ignored issues...Prayerful there will be dialogue. https://t.co/yv0Y1a1kQC
Actor Jeffrey Wright was busy tweeting responses to the violence after first calling on leadership from the top.
Pres Obama, you & AG Lynch are called to lead toward an historic revision of law enforcement/community relations. Anything less is failure.
OWN's Iyanla Vanzant also called for a deeper look into the issues.
Consider that what we see in Baltimore is yet ANOTHER demonstration of OUR FAILURES as a society-Look not at the incidents but the ISSUES
Chris Rock quoted Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
I think this quote by Martin Luther King is relevant right now. #BaltimoreRiots #EndViolence pic.twitter.com/g1rz8AzbQ9
Kevin Hart was heartbroken over the violence.
What's going on in Baltimore is honestly hurting my heart!!!! I'm praying for the city in a whole....I promote Peace not War!!!!
As was Demi Lovato:
Nobody wins in Baltimore tonight. My heart is broken watching the news in Singapore right now. #prayersforbaltimore
Chris Rock quoted Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
I think this quote by Martin Luther King is relevant right now. #BaltimoreRiots #EndViolence pic.twitter.com/g1rz8AzbQ9
Kevin Hart was heartbroken over the violence.
What's going on in Baltimore is honestly hurting my heart!!!! I'm praying for the city in a whole....I promote Peace not War!!!!
As was Demi Lovato:
Nobody wins in Baltimore tonight. My heart is broken watching the news in Singapore right now. #prayersforbaltimore