Skip the Debates; Americans Know What Baltimore's Riots Were Really About

Polls show that a majority of the public views the Baltimore 
riots as an excuse to steal, not a reflection of pent-up 
frustrations with the police.

While political elites, pundits and local politicians debate what the Baltimore riots were really about, Americans themselves have already decided: Rioters and looters were mostly criminals taking advantage of a tumultuous situation.

A new Rasmussen Reports survey of 800 found a whopping 63% of adults have decided that the destruction was primarily criminal. Only 25% saw the city's mob violence, looting and arson after the funeral of Freddie Gray as "legitimate outrage," whatever that is.

The result of this national opinion verdict is a significant change from last summer when rioting erupted in Ferguson, Mo., following the shooting of an unarmed black man by a police officer. The officer said the man charged him. A grand jury agreed, voting no indictment, and the Justice Department also opted against filing any charges after separate investigations.

Last summer the same 25% saw the violence and arson as legitimate, while a bare majority (52%) viewed the mob's actions as criminal.

In another new poll to be released Monday evening, fully 96% of 508 American adults said they believe Baltimore's violence was a mere precursor toward a summer full of similar outbreaks in other cities.

A new Wall Street Journal / NBC News Poll also found striking racial disparities in views of adults behind the causes of the violence and looting.

Read the rest of the IBD Editorial HERE.

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