Baltimore descended into chaos Saturday night as hundreds of people engaged in wanton violence and looting, prompting a police crackdown and ruining any chance of real or meaningful protest against police brutality in the wake of the death of Freddie Gray.

Rioters smashed up local businesses and parked cars, and attacked patrons:

Another day in USA: Obama yucks it up in front of drooling press crowd as Baltimore spirals with race riots #WHCD pic.twitter.com/DtOpJXT3Iy

— MATT DRUDGE (@DRUDGE) April 26, 2015

A Baltimore restaurant gets destroyed during the riot via /r/videos http://t.co/d2YstlXuxI #videos #reddit pic.twitter.com/wqGZHCpzGv

— Reddit Subreddits (@subredditsbot) April 26, 2015

My report from Baltimore last night, including the only video of a big 9.15pm clash at the western district police HQ http://t.co/0iuP37Ehi4

— Jon Swaine (@jonswaine) April 26, 2015

After peaceful start #FreddieGray protest turns violent. Robberies, so WP finds a 63yr old. http://t.co/6JWBfHEXrM pic.twitter.com/h2eXs1dqLU

— Shaughn (@Shaughn_A) April 26, 2015

Rioters intentionally targeted the Baltimore Orioles game at Camden Yards, where innocent American families were caught up in the trouble.

Martial law in effect in Baltimore. We can't leave Camden Yards. Mayor has locked down everything.#baltimoreprotests pic.twitter.com/6vvOuJU1wU

— Garrett Wingate (@Garrett_Wingate) April 26, 2015

Main gates closed at #OPACY bunch of people filming at the outfield bar #Baltimore #Orioles pic.twitter.com/DliNn5E7ds

— Kara (@karmba) April 25, 2015

In Baltimore, hundreds jam the streets in protest of Freddie Gray's death http://t.co/GLPrXp7ktA pic.twitter.com/8C6WbW24aB

— The Boston Globe (@BostonGlobe) April 25, 2015

Other agitators encouraged a police crackdown by throwing rocks and attacking police vehicles.

The fire rises RT @The__Tactician: RT @cmcampbell6: #FreddieGray protesters smashing windows of Baltimore police cars pic.twitter.com/gYX5R1AYJk

— سيباستيان العظيم (@CbazzThaGreat) April 25, 2015

The constitution guarantees citizens the rights to protest. Please remain peaceful. Several of our police cars have been damaged.

— Baltimore Police (@BaltimorePolice) April 25, 2015

Police have just started chasing protestors. #FreddieGray pic.twitter.com/KVVDLVP1OH

— jelani cobb (@jelani9) April 25, 2015

Downtown. Now. Wild. #FreddieGray pic.twitter.com/aQRFUbtX93

— deray mckesson (@deray) April 26, 2015

While the gathering had started off peacefully, so called ‘protesters’ from the Ferguson riots had traveled to Baltimore blatantly to instigate chaos:

.@deray and @Nettaaaaaaaa say Baltimore the most organic protest they've seen pic.twitter.com/uoZqJCeDn7

— Baynard Woods (@baynardwoods) April 25, 2015

Some even encouraged looting:

This is disgraceful of @deray & is in no way representative of all blacks. Shame on you, I'm disgusted #FreddieGray pic.twitter.com/6dtgbqU74s

— Alexiis Starr (@AlexiisStarr) April 26, 2015

RT @MandaBoo1194 PSA: This does not scream justice for #FreddieGray Stop destroying #Baltimore pic.twitter.com/oKpL6Wp7f4

— SalenaZito (@SalenaZitoTrib) April 26, 2015

@AlexiisStarr @deray There is NO DEFENSE of #looting U don't represent me or mine.

— Tessa (@curlyque007) April 26, 2015

Meanwhile, the President was laughing and joking about being a lame duck and having a “f*ck it” attitude at the annual White House Correspondents Dinner, just 40 miles away:

ALWAYS FUNNY: Obama Made a Funny About Taking Executive Action and White House Reporters Howled with Laughter http://t.co/QyUvJp9xm4

— slone (@slone) April 26, 2015

I want y’all to see the juxtaposition of DC’s media elite yukking it up @ the #WHCD while 45 minutes away hell is breaking loose in Bmore.

— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) April 25, 2015

As no shortage of people have pointed out, DC's most powerful sipping wine as people take the streets an hour away in Baltimore

— Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) April 26, 2015

In Ferguson and elsewhere, so called ‘protesters’, intent on narrowing the extremely broad problem of police brutality into an issue solely of race, have bizarrely targeted restaurants and diners, stirring up conflict and often bullying innocent people, including women and children.

The actions of these people will only encourage rational Americans to turn away in disgust, will provide the media with ample material to demonize all protest, and will exponentially WORSEN the problem of police authoritarianism.

Good work at the #BaltimoreRiots guys. #looting #violence is going to give us a world of change as always. Except it doesn't/won't. Go home

— J Spencer Fox (@jspencerfox) April 26, 2015

#FreddieGray #riots #looting destroying #Baltimore #BlackPrivilege #BlackLivesMatter ? Losers. have some respect. pic.twitter.com/byvMHIQkeV

— WakeUpAmerica (@MyCrazyAmerica) April 26, 2015

Smashing windows, #looting, destroying #civilian and #police cars…this is why no will listen to you guys, so stop. #FreddieGray #Baltimore

— Kourosh Shah (@ShahKourosh) April 26, 2015

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Steve Watson is a London based writer and editor for Alex Jones’ Infowars.com, and Prisonplanet.com. He has a Masters Degree in International Relations from the School of Politics at The University of Nottingham, and a Bachelor Of Arts Degree in Literature and Creative Writing from Nottingham Trent University.

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