アメリカ東部のメリーランド州ボルティモア市で警察への抗議活動が激化する中、トヤ・グラハムさんは、16歳の息子のマイケルさんが警察官に物を投げ付けたのを目撃した。そして、母親としてビンタを食らわせたシーンが動画におさめられた。グラハムさんは息子に大事な教訓を教えるために、公衆の面前であえて息子を叱りつけたと述べた。
「私の唯一の息子です。フレディー・グレイのようにはなって欲しくない」。女手１つでマイケルさんと5人の娘を育てるグラハムさんはCBSニュースの取材に対し、こう答えた。
グレイさんは4月19日、警察による拘束時に受けた脊椎の負傷がもとで死亡した。グレイさんの葬式は27日に行われたが、その後、警察官と抗議活動をするデモ隊との衝突が起きた。
グラハムさんは息子が暴徒化したデモ隊の中にいることを発見、直ちに息子の方に向かって行き、体罰を加えた。その間、１人の通行人が彼女の行動をカメラでとらえていた。
「私は寛容な母親でありません。誰もが私のことを知っています。私が冗談半分でそんなことをしないことを知っています」。グラハムさんはこう話した。
グラハムさんは、自らの行動について息子のFacebook上の友人の一部から賞賛を受けた、と述べた。そして、抗議デモの後に帰宅し、グラハムさんと息子はデモについてのニュースをテレビで見たと話した。グラハムさんは27日に起きた出来事すべてが、息子にとって良い経験になることを望んでいた。
「息子には何が起きていたのかをしっかりすべて見ることによって、昨晩起きた出来事の重大性を理解してもらえればと思っています」
この記事はハフポストUS版に掲載されたものを翻訳しました。
【関連記事】
ハフィントンポスト日本版はFacebook ページでも情報発信しています。
ハフィントンポスト日本版はTwitterでも情報発信しています。@HuffPostJapan をフォロー
関連記事
ボルティモアの抗議デモ、暴動に発展
(01 of33)
michaelcharles/Instagram
(02 of33)
Fire Fighter attempt to put out a building that was set on fire during riots in Baltimore, USA on April 27, 2015. Protests following the death of Freddie Gray from injuries suffered while in police custody have turned violent with people throwing debris at police and media and burning cars and businesses. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
(03 of33)
Baltimore firefighters battle a three-alarm fire at Gay and Chester Streets on Monday, April 27, 2015, in Baltimore. It was unclear whether it was related to ongoing riots. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun/TNS via Getty Images)
(04 of33)
An officer stands near a blaze, Monday, April 27, 2015, after rioters plunged part of Baltimore into chaos, torching a pharmacy, setting police cars ablaze and throwing bricks at officers. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
(05 of33)
sarahismile/Instagram
(06 of33)
Firefighters battle a blaze, Monday, April 27, 2015, after rioters plunged part of Baltimore into chaos, torching a pharmacy, setting police cars ablaze and throwing bricks at officers. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
(07 of33)
Firefighters battle a blaze, Monday, April 27, 2015, after rioters plunged part of Baltimore into chaos, torching a pharmacy, setting police cars ablaze and throwing bricks at officers. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
(08 of33)
An injured police officer is carried away by his fellow officers on Westbury Avenue in Baltimore during riots on Monday, April 27, 2015. (Erica Green/Baltimore Sun/TNS via Getty Images)
(09 of33)
A man walks past a burning police vehicle, Monday, April 27, 2015, during unrest following the funeral of Freddie Gray in Baltimore. Gray died from spinal injuries about a week after he was arrested and transported in a Baltimore Police Department van. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
(10 of33)
A car burns Monday, April 27, 2015, during unrest following the funeral of Freddie Gray in Baltimore. (Lloyd Fox/The Baltimore Sun via AP)
(11 of33)
Looters empty the CVS at Pennsylvania and North Avenues during riots on Monday, April 27, 2015, in Baltimore. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun/TNS via Getty Images)
(12 of33)
A demonstrator raises his fist as police stand in formation as a store burns, Monday, April 27, 2015, during unrest following the funeral of Freddie Gray in Baltimore. Gray died from spinal injuries about a week after he was arrested and transported in a Baltimore Police Department van. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
(13 of33)
Sam Wirtz, left, an employee of the store, surveys the damage Monday, April 27, 2015, during unrest following the funeral of Freddie Gray in Baltimore. (Lloyd Fox/The Baltimore Sun via AP)
(14 of33)
Smoke billows from a CVS Pharmacy store in Baltimore on Monday, April 27, 2015. Demonstrators clashed with police after the funeral of Freddie Gray. Gray died from spinal injuries about a week after he was arrested and transported in a Baltimore Police Department van. (AP Photo/Juliet Linderman)
(15 of33)
Police move a protester back, Monday, April 27, 2015, following the funeral of Freddie Gray in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
(16 of33)
Baltimore Police officers arrest a man near Mowdamin Mall, April 27, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. The funeral service for Freddie Gray, who died last week while in Baltimore Police custody, was held on Monday morning. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
(17 of33)
Firefighters prepare to put out a fire at a store, Monday, April 27, 2015, during unrest following the funeral of Freddie Gray in Baltimore. Gray died from spinal injuries about a week after he was arrested and transported in a Baltimore Police Department van. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
(18 of33)
A protester is detained, Monday, April 27, 2015, following the funeral of Freddie Gray in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
(19 of33)
Men clean up during a protest, Monday, April 27, 2015, following the funeral of Freddie Gray in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
(20 of33)
A brick sits on a street as police standby, Monday, April 27, 2015, during a skirmish with demonstrators after the funeral of Freddie Gray in Baltimore. Gray died from spinal injuries about a week after he was arrested and transported in a Baltimore Police Department van. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
(21 of33)
Baltimore Police officers confront protestors on Reisterstown Road near Mondawmin Mall, April 27, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. The funeral service for Freddie Gray, who died last week while in Baltimore Police custody, was held on Monday morning. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
(22 of33)
A man carries items from a store as police vehicles burn, Monday, April 27, 2015, after the funeral of Freddie Gray in Baltimore. Gray died from spinal injuries about a week after he was arrested and transported in a Baltimore Police Department van. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
(23 of33)
A boy throws a brick at police, Monday, April 27, 2015, during unrest following the funeral of Freddie Gray in Baltimore. Gray died from spinal injuries about a week after he was arrested and transported in a Baltimore Police Department van. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
(24 of33)
A protestor during riots in Baltimore, USA on April 27, 2015. Protests following the death of Freddie Gray from injuries suffered while in police custody have turned violent with people throwing debris at police and media and burning cars and businesses. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
(25 of33)
A police vehicle chases protestors away in a parking lot along Reisterstown Road near Mondawmin Mall, April 27, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. A group of young protestors clashed with police in the streets near Mondawmin Mall in the afternoon following Freddie Gray\'s funeral. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
(26 of33)
A demonstrator walks past police with a brick as they respond to thrown objects, Monday, April 27, 2015, after the funeral of Freddie Gray in Baltimore. Gray died from spinal injuries about a week after he was arrested and transported in a Baltimore Police Department van. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
(27 of33)
A boy throws a brick at a police van, Monday, April 27, 2015, during a skirmish between demonstrators and police after the funeral of Freddie Gray in Baltimore. Gray died from spinal injuries about a week after he was arrested and transported in a Baltimore Police Department van. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
(28 of33)
Baltimore Police officers in riot gear walk toward protestors along Reisterstown Road near Mondawmin Mall, April 27, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. A group of young protestors clashed with police in the streets near Mondawmin Mall in the afternoon following Freddie Gray\'s funeral. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
(29 of33)
A police officer throws an object at protestors, Monday, April 27, 2015, following the funeral of Freddie Gray in Baltimore. Gray died from spinal injuries about a week after he was arrested and transported in a Baltimore Police Department van. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
(30 of33)
Baltimore Police officers push back a protestor on Reisterstown Road near Mowdamin Mall, April 27, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. The funeral service for Freddie Gray, who died last week while in Baltimore Police custody, was held on Monday morning. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
(31 of33)
A Baltimore Police officers in riot gear push protestors back along Reisterstown Road near Mondawmin Mall, April 27, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. A group of young protestors clashed with police in the streets near Mondawmin Mall in the afternoon following Freddie Gray\'s funeral. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
(32 of33)
thegreatest103/Instagram
(33 of33)
Police line up outside Mondawmin Mall during riots in Baltimore, USA on April 27, 2015. Protests following the death of Freddie Gray from injuries suffered while in police custody have turned violent with people throwing debris at police and media and burning cars and businesses. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)