When the police beat an 87-year-old grandmother who called 911 to get medical help for her grandson who had been shot — just because they don’t believe her — and suffer no consequences for it, the “law” as such has become wicked. This doesn’t excuse riots, but it sure as heck explains them. Baltimore is broken, but primarily in a massive system of abuse. Yes, pray for peace. But remember that civic peace comes in large part through civic justice; rule of law follows the law ruling justly.

Connor Friedersdorf has a lot more; you need to read it, even though — or rather, precisely because — it is such a mess.