Judge Rules Edward Nero Not Guilty in Freddie Gray Case, but Social Media Disagrees
Twitter users from diverse backgrounds condemned the American justice system with the trending hashtag #NeroTrial.
Protesters gathered outside of a courthouse in Baltimore after Officer Edward Nero was acquittted. (Patrick Semansky/AP)
Protesters gathered outside of a courthouse in Baltimore after Officer Edward Nero was acquittted. (Patrick Semansky/AP)
A judge has found Officer Edward Nero not guilty on all charges in the Freddie Gray case on Monday, but many on social media disagreed with the verdict.
Nero was one of six Baltimore police officers charged in the 2015 arrest and death of Gray. Nero was accused of assault, misconduct in office and reckless endangerment.
Twitter users from diverse backgrounds condemned the American justice system with the trending hashtag #NeroTrial. They remembered Gray, whose death led to riots in Baltimore, by using the hashtag #FreddieGray.
The “not guilty” verdict is also a reminder that the criminal justice system is not designed to yield justice for dead black bodies.
— Marc Lamont Hill (@marclamonthill) May 23, 2016
#FreddieGray was a human being. A human being who deserves compassion.
Who deserves NOT to be dead.— Benjamin YoungSavage (@benjancewicz) May 23, 2016
historically black life in a society ruled by white supremacy has never mattered. 400+ years later we are reminded of that fact #FreddieGray
— Mr. It Is Our Duty (@Mr_ItIsOurDuty) May 23, 2016
I hope we remember that #FreddieGray didn’t commit a crime–that he ran from people who he knew could hurt him and not be held accountable.
— Clint Smith (@ClintSmithIII) May 23, 2016
White privilege: being able to come up with virtually every reason under the sun for #FreddieGray to die. #BaltimoreUprising
— Jason Chesnut (@crazypastor) May 23, 2016
Again, one can support police officers and support police reforms. Life isn’t binary. #FreddieGray
— sfpelosi (@sfpelosi) May 23, 2016
Twitter has proven to be a powerful tool to give voice to dissent. Time will tell if any of the protest leads to substantive changes in police work and community relations.
Your support matters…Independent journalism is under threat and overshadowed by heavily funded mainstream media.
You can help level the playing field. Become a member.
Your tax-deductible contribution keeps us digging beneath the headlines to give you thought-provoking, investigative reporting and analysis that unearths what's really happening- without compromise.
Give today to support our courageous, independent journalists.
Courts & Law
An analysis of Baltimore Police data shows how reform is regularly misrepresented to the public by political leaders and police.
News
Federal regulators sanctioned Maersk for illegally blocking workers from reporting safety concerns to the U.S. Coast Guard.
Catherine Pugh faces up to 35 years in prison.
Polling shows that blacks continue to be overwhelmingly negative in their assessments of the president’s performance.
The Baltimore Democrat, the first black lawmaker to lie in state in the U.S. Capitol, is lauded as "a quiet giant" whose words were heeded.
Officer Daniel Pantaleo has gone all but unpunished for killing Eric Garner. This is what happens when American imperialism comes home.
You need to be a supporter to comment.
There are currently no responses to this article.
Be the first to respond.