The images coming out of Baltimore on Monday (April 27) showed a city in distress. After the April 19 death of Freddie Gray, the 25-year-old man who died of spinal cord injuries while in police custody, riots broke out after his funeral in West Baltimore. Maryland Governor Larry Hogan even declared a State of Emergency and activated the National Guard as Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake instituted a weeklong, citywide 10pm curfew. City public schools also closed on Tuesday.
Here are several standout celebrities whose words on the Baltimore riots spoke louder than 140 characters.
Baltimore. These are not protestors. These are criminals disrespectful of the wishes of the family and people of good will.
— Wendell Pierce (@WendellPierce) April 27, 2015
To my Beloved city Baltimore..I feel your pain. Stand up..rise UP without breaking down! Discipline not Destruction. #VictorynotVictims
— Andre Royo (@AndreRoyo) April 27, 2015
Nobody wins in Baltimore tonight. My heart is broken watching the news in Singapore right now. #prayersforbaltimore
— Demi Lovato (@ddlovato) April 28, 2015
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!!!!
— Kevin Hart (@KevinHart4real) April 28, 2015
The media isn’t the problem in Baltimore. It’s the ABJECT LACK OF LEADERSHIP. The media isn’t the problem here. #BaltimoreRiots
— Montel Williams (@Montel_Williams) April 28, 2015
Nonviolence as Compliance in Baltimore http://t.co/f7DXqaqTeD
— John Legend (@johnlegend) April 28, 2015
Prayers of peace for Baltimore. My heart is with you.
— Zendaya (@Zendaya) April 28, 2015
Praying for peace in Baltimore
— Trey Songz (@TreySongz) April 28, 2015
Just came out of meditation + focused all of my energy towards letting the right path be illuminated for the city of Baltimore.
— Russell Simmons (@UncleRUSH) April 28, 2015
As a society, we must take care of our young ppl, even during moments of anger. Let us embrace them with love during this very painful time.
— Russell Simmons (@UncleRUSH) April 28, 2015
To law enforcement in Baltimore, remember these are not just our children, they are your children as well. PLS show constraint + be peaceful
— Russell Simmons (@UncleRUSH) April 28, 2015
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
— Iyanla Vanzant (@IyanlaVanzant) April 28, 2015
BALTIMORE STAY STRONG.
— VIC MENSA (@VicMensa) April 28, 2015
Don’t you understand? We’re tired of being murdered in the street like dogs. How many times can you be shot at before you shoot back?
— VIC MENSA (@VicMensa) April 28, 2015
Maybe the aggression is misdirected. But you can’t say it’s unwarranted.
— VIC MENSA (@VicMensa) April 28, 2015
And I’m sorry but I don’t need to see anyone not black saying how the fuck we should or shouldn’t feel. It’s just not your place.
— VIC MENSA (@VicMensa) April 28, 2015
I’m not forgetting Latinos. My brother was attacked with rubber bullets and tear gas in Baltimore. he’s Mexican. he knows that pain.
— VIC MENSA (@VicMensa) April 28, 2015
Don’t get it twisted. The people are under attack. Not the police.
— VIC MENSA (@VicMensa) April 28, 2015
Then and now. pic.twitter.com/3uDnTqWwYZ
— Ice Cube (@icecube) April 27, 2015
And I don’t condone what’s going on in Bmore “but” our people has been thru so much pain it’s hard to control your emotions!
— Meek Mill (@MeekMill) April 28, 2015
cameras are finally bringing to light what’s been going on for years! So imagine the lies that’s been told that destroyed black families!
— Meek Mill (@MeekMill) April 28, 2015
And tearing down Ya own neighborhood is not the solution. it only makes the system look down on us even more as blacks! Let’s pray 4 #bmore
— Meek Mill (@MeekMill) April 28, 2015
Baltimore doing what they suppose 2 be doing
— YG (@YG) April 27, 2015
Young black folk have been FED disrespect the past 20yrs across the USA especially through culture.The GOVT not only allowed they backed it.
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) April 27, 2015
No LIVES matter if WE Don’t Matter. Human is a privileged state to BE-IN. Culture brings us together, Govs Corps split us up in categories
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) April 28, 2015
Damn. Baltimore is getting outta control. I understand protests. I don’t understand looting CVS. That’s not honoring Freddie Grey.
— Bun B (@BunBTrillOG) April 27, 2015
I support peaceful protest. I don’t support fucktards who fall for mainstream media propping up “riot” as the goal of protest.
— Talib Kweli Greene (@TalibKweli) April 28, 2015
Police violence caused “riots.” You wanna stop riots? stand up against police brutality that is killing people of color indiscriminately.
— Talib Kweli Greene (@TalibKweli) April 28, 2015
And the ugliest truth is without “riots” many of you would not give a fuck about any of these systemic problems at all. Swallow that whole.
— Talib Kweli Greene (@TalibKweli) April 28, 2015
You want us to condemn black folks being violent against PROPERTY but you NEVER condemn police killing actual PEOPLE. #Explain #JustTry
— jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 28, 2015
Photo Credit: Getty