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Source: Greg Fiume / Getty

In an effort to tamp down anger and explore the undercurrent of the rage driving protesters, an executive with the Baltimore Orioles took to Twitter over the weekend to defend demonstrators, reports the Huffington Post.

John P. Angelos, Orioles’ chief operating officer and son of team owner Peter Angelos, defended protesters Saturday in response to a rant by Baltimore sports broadcaster Brett Hollander, notes the Post.

Hollander became upset because fans at Baltimore’s Oriole Park at Camden Yards were told late-Saturday that they could not leave the stadium because of protests that erupted over the death of Freddie Gray, 25. Gray died after suffering a spinal injury while in police custody on April 19. Riots erupted after his funeral on Monday.

Angelos’ tweets came before Monday night’s riots.

Here, the Huffington Post captured some of Angelos’ comments:

Brett speaking only for myself i agree with your point that the principle of peaceful, non-violent protest and the observance of the rule of law is of utmost importance in any society. MLK, Gandhi, Mandela, and all great opposition leaders throughout history have always preached this precept. Further, it is critical that in any democracy investigation must be completed and due process must be honored before any government or police members are judged responsible.

That said, my greater source of personal concern, outrage and sympathy beyond this particular case is focused neither upon one night’s property damage nor upon the acts group but is focused rather upon the past four-decade period during which an American political elite have shipped middle class and working class jobs away from Baltimore and cities and towns around the US to 3rd world dictatorships like China and others plunged tens of millions of good hard working americans into economic devastation and then followed that action around the nation by diminishing every American’s civil rights protections in order to control an unfairly impoverished population living under an civil rights protections in order to control an unfairly impoverished population living under an ever-declining standard of living and suffering at the butt end of an ever-more militarized and aggressive surveillance state.

The innocent working families of all backgrounds whose lives and dreams have been cut short by excessive violence, surveillance, and other abuses of the bill of rights by government pay the true price, an ultimate price, and one that far exceeds the importance of any kids’ game played tonight, or ever, at Camden Yards.

Angelos won widespread praise across Twitter for his comments. Here are a few examples:

SOURCE: The Huffington Post | PHOTO CREDIT: Getty

SEE ALSO:

Baltimore Calls National Guard, Cancels School, Sets Curfew After Violence Rocks The City

On Her First Day As Attorney General, Loretta Lynch Sends Justice Department Officials To Baltimore

Baltimore Orioles Exec Defends Freddie Gray Protesters  was originally published on newsone.com