The Wire actors speak out against Baltimore riots
An outbreak of mob violence in the American city of Baltimore has prompted leading figures from the city’s greatest cultural export, HBO’s The Wire, to speak out against senseless violence, arson and looting.
This follows the death of a man, Freddie Gray, who suffered a spinal injury whilst in police custody, the latest in a series of fatalities amongst African Americans at the hands of police.
Andre Royo, who played the character of Reginald ‘Bubbles’ Cousins on the long-running drama, urged citizens to embrace ‘discipline not destruction’ in a tweeted message to fans.
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, 2015These sentiments were echoed by Wendell Pierce, who played detective Bunk Moreland in the hit show, who warned that the rage currently on display in the city streets would be better channelled toward effecting real change of management and accountability of Baltimore police.
A display of rage would be demanding the Dept of Justice to take over Baltimore police with a Consent Decree with our demands defining it
— Wendell Pierce (@WendellPierce) April 27, 2015Show creator David Simon also weighed in, speaking out on his website against the violence: “The anger and the selfishness and the brutality of those claiming the right to violence in Freddie Gray’s name needs to cease. Here 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 dimunition of the absolute moral lesson that underlies his unnecessary death."
"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. Turn around. Go home. Please."