This weekend’s Mondawmin Festival was supposed to be a fun-filled celebration at the very spot where Baltimore’s recent riots were set off. Instead, it was marked by a festival-goer dumping a cup of water over Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.
According to the Baltimore Sun, Lacheisa Pailin-Sheffer ran up to the mayor and poured the liquid in question. “I hope it was water,” Rawlings-Blake said shortly afterward. Pailin-Sheffer, 37, was arrested and charged with second-degree assault.
There’s a long and proud tradition of civilians attempting to humiliate or shame public figures, often politicians, by assaulting them with food in a public place. (Pie is generally the vehicle of choice.)
The water did not deter Rawlings-Blake from attending the rest of the festival, which was also intended to help increase traffic at the struggling mall.
So very sorry that the water thrower was arrested! Maybe a stern talking to would have been more beneficial for the Ms. Pailin-Sheffer and the Mayor, who had a chance to share an understanding of human emotion and a willingness to reach out. We have enough people arrested in Baltimore and this doesn’t seem to be a good use of public resources. As the article pointed out “There’s a long and proud tradition of civilians attempting to humiliate or shame public figures, often politicians, by assaulting them with food in a public place. (Pie is generally the vehicle of choice.)” Water is a kinder vehicle than the pie. Hopefully the charges will be dropped. H.Ferebee