"There is nothing 'black' about rioting": Grey's Anatomy actor's powerful tweets about Baltimore

“How do you think we got all this land?”

Superbowl XLVII 'Next' Party - New Orleans Jesse Williams AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

GREY’S ANATOMY ACTOR Jesse Williams has spoken out about the riots in Baltimore, and the treatment of Black people in America.

His passionate and uncompromising tweets received thousands of retweets, comments and favourites.

They came after rioting in Baltimore broke out over the death of a young man in police custody.

Today, Barack Obama said:

Since Ferguson… we have seen too many instances of what appears to be police officers interacting with individuals — primarily African American, often poor — in ways that raise troubling questions.

Here are Jesse Williams’ tweets, in full:

If you don't actually care about Black people having equal protection under the law, why are you making suggestions to those who do?
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 28, 2015

jesseWilliams. / Twitter

What are the critical elements that constitute a "riot" and when do riots offend you?
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 28, 2015

jesseWilliams. / Twitter

If we view rioting as a mass temper tantrum expressed through violence & property damage, white sports fans do that monthly. #Tradition
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 28, 2015

jesseWilliams. / Twitter

1 group can burn & loot when a team scores less points than another but when paid public servants kill citizens, we gotta be BaggerVance?
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 28, 2015

jesseWilliams. / Twitter

Where are all the think pieces & coverage of the pathology of white culture every time white frustration vents violence & destruction?
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 28, 2015

jesseWilliams. / Twitter

There is nothing "black" about rioting. How do you think we got all this land?
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 28, 2015

jesseWilliams. / Twitter

Historically riots have been tools for intimidation; destroying populations, taking land & valuables. #BlowingOffSteam #BoysWillBeBoys
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 28, 2015

jesseWilliams. / Twitter

Whites rioted throughout the early 1900s, slaughtering, burning & looting entire thriving black townships, just because of the adjective.
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 28, 2015

jesseWilliams. / Twitter

You've watched hulking bullies w/ badges, robes & money brutalize, kill & cage human beings every yr of your entire lives & said nothing.
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 28, 2015

jesseWilliams. / Twitter

So Exactly What Kind Of Violence Don't You Like?
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 28, 2015

jesseWilliams. / Twitter

Police & policies have been rioting on our bodies; destroying people & property every single day of your lives. But here you come...
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 28, 2015

jesseWilliams. / Twitter

...When the beaten, marinated in centuries of trauma, pain & distress, manage to muster a response, here you come, squealing; revealing.
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 28, 2015

jesseWilliams. / Twitter

You seem to really hate when people do "things that aren't helping" like contextualizing issues based on empirical evidence. #UghTheWorst!
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 28, 2015

jesseWilliams. / Twitter

Things that "aren't helping" happen every single day though, which means you've had a million opportunities to research & contribute. #But
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 28, 2015

jesseWilliams. / Twitter

You have so much to say, yet we've never seen you out here you before. Who shows up after the event & criticizes the audience's reaction?
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 28, 2015

jesseWilliams. / Twitter

So tell me again, what kind of violence it is that you detest? I keep forgetting.
ToWhom? FromWhom? HowOften? For how long? InOrderToWhat?
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 28, 2015

jesseWilliams. / Twitter

The reaction to oppression has always been spun & marketed as validation for the status quo.
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 28, 2015

jesseWilliams. / Twitter

Notice how the party slogan, no matter the font or cleche, always boils down to #NeverChange.
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 28, 2015

jesseWilliams. / Twitter

"There is nothing 'black' about rioting": Grey's Anatomy actor's powerful tweets about Baltimore

Read: Obama: “There are police departments that have to do some soul searching”>