Prior to looting and destroying, the Baltimore rioters made their intentions clear: “Shut down Amerikkka.”

Peotest. Baltimore. #FreddieGray pic.twitter.com/zLLqtXxgwH

— deray (@deray) April 26, 2015

Power. Baltimore. #FreddieGray pic.twitter.com/c2CAqEnQkm

— deray (@deray) April 25, 2015

Hat. Protest. Baltimore. #FreddieGray pic.twitter.com/smpz7iUgIJ

— deray (@deray) April 25, 2015

And they defended the actions of those destroying downtown Baltimore:

Property damage is not violence, it is property damage. Violence is when people are hurt, injured, harmed. The police have been violent.

— deray (@deray) April 26, 2015

We have become too casual with the word violence — it refers to harm done to people. The police are the only violent ones here.

— deray (@deray) April 26, 2015

Protester organizers didn’t have an explanation for this:

Here’s how RT described it: “A Ruptly producer had their handbag stolen live on camera, after being surrounded by a group of youths, as they filmed a protest over the death of Freddie Gray in Baltimore, Saturday. The producer gave chase to the suspected thief before police intervened.”

Here’s more:

Protester organizers vowed confrontation hours before:

And they’re not going away anytime soon:

This will be a long summer, everywhere.

— deray (@deray) April 25, 2015