One thing I’ve observed in the last decade I’ve spent writing and reporting about Baltimore was that after the death of Freddie Gray, the way city leaders discussed police and policing changed — but the dangerous and racist roots of policing remained firmly in place.
Suddenly, it became fashionable for leaders to hint at the root causes of violence. However, that didn’t mean that funding for police or the immense power that the institution has over this city changed in any measurable way. Logan Hullinger’s detailed and careful reporting in this issue confirms this.
“In a staggering indictment of policing in Baltimore, a Baltimore Beat analysis of police data shows that nearly all people arrested and charged with drug crimes in Baltimore are Black — even though studies show that drug use rates among the Black population are similar to those of other races,” he writes.
Hullinger examined arrest statistics from the Baltimore Police Department, alongside demographics from the U.S. Census Bureau, to arrive at this conclusion.
Hullinger examined arrest statistics from the Baltimore Police Department, alongside demographics from the U.S. Census Bureau to arrive at this conclusion.
In their defense, the Baltimore Police Department says they are simply targeting areas of the city where crime exists.
“The BPD prioritizes enforcement efforts on drug-related activities that contribute to violence, such as trafficking and distribution by organized criminal networks. Enforcement strategies continue to evolve, focusing on dismantling open-air drug markets and addressing addiction through a public health lens, including diversion programs and drug court. Officers also address cases where substance use contributes to broader public safety concerns,” BPD spokesperson Lindsey Eldridge told Hullinger.
Also in this issue, Jaisal Noor spoke to young local activists about why they continue to organize on behalf of Palestinians.
“We wanted to show that even if it’s just a handful of us, we’re not going to let our school go about with a land acknowledgment and then censor students who want to talk about Palestine,” Qamar Hassan, a graduating senior at the Maryland Institute College of Art, told Noor.
Elsewhere in this issue, Angela N. Carroll writes about “Crosscurrents: Works from the Contemporary Collection,” a new exhibition now on view at the Baltimore Museum of Art that examines the ways that the fight for social justice intersects with the fight for environmental justice.
“You’ll see that some of the work [and] themes are very directly anchored in ecology, where the artist is making a direct statement about environmental justice. But much more often, you’ll see a more expansive relationship with that subject, thinking about environmental justice and social justice as entwined,” Cecilia Wichmann, curator and department head of contemporary art at the museum, told Carroll.
For “Best Beats,” Arts and Culture Editor Teri Henderson writes about new music from Yaira Wang (formerly known as Grey Dolf), Nourished by Time, Moon Tide Gallery, and a bunch of local DJs. Our Photostory page features scenes from Baltimore Pride over 20 years ago, through the lens of the late photographer Joseph Kohl.
All this is in addition to a new film review from Dominic Griffin, a poem from Writers in Baltimore Schools participant Javonte’ Patterson, and calendar listings of events happening all over the city.
You’ll also see two graduation announcements in this issue. If you’d like for us to publish yours, follow the QR code on page 10.
Thank you for reading.