Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina argued Wednesday that protesters in Baltimore were using Freddie Gray’s death as a justification for criminal violence.
“First of all, the death of this young man is obviously a tragedy, and a thorough investigation needs to be concluded as quickly as possible,” Fiorina, a likely 2016 GOP presidential candidate, told Breitbart News.
“Secondly, peaceful protests are one thing,” she said of the city’s riots earlier this week.
{mosads}“Everyone has the right to peacefully protest, but I’m really disturbed when I hear people say that these riots were sparked by the death of this young man,” Fiorina concluded.
Fiorina said demonstrators were using Gray’s death to “excuse” looting, vandalism and other illegal activities. Such behavior, she charged, could not continue without jeopardizing Baltimore’s future.
“We cannot condone this type of violence,” Fiorina declared.
“It’s completely counterproductive, and it’s being conducted by a set of young men who have no stake in their community, and we need to separate and be clear that this kind of violence is never, never tolerable,” she urged.
Fiorina said body and dashboard cameras for police could help prevent similar standoffs nationwide in the future. Such devices could benefit law enforcement, as “transparency always helps accountability,” she argued.
Riots began in Baltimore on Monday following the death of Gray, a 25-year-old African-American man, after he suffered a fatal spinal injury while in police custody.
Baltimore police announced Tuesday they had arrested 235 people in connection with the civil unrest. At least 20 police officers were hurt in clashes with angry citizens.
Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake (D) imposed a curfew Tuesday. The ban will remain in place from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. every night this week.
Fiorina’s criticism comes as she mulls a likely 2016 bid. The former executive is expected to publicly launch her campaign May 4 in an online video.