NBC News " Hardball"- Transcript: Ruppersberger's Statement On Baltimore Police Brutality

Interview

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MATTHEWS: U.S. Congressman Nick -- or, actually, Dutch Ruppersberg is
from -- Ruppersberger -- I`m sorry -- of Maryland is with us.

You were on earlier today.

Congressman, give us a sense of this. You know, you don`t want -- I
don`t want to get too sociological here, but this is not an unfamiliar
situation we`re looking at here.

REP. DUTCH RUPPERSBERGER (D), MARYLAND: Well, it`s not.

But the unfortunate thing, those of us who grew up in Baltimore -- I
was born in Baltimore -- we love Baltimore and the -- and I represent the
region of Baltimore. And what`s so upsetting is for the country now to see
Baltimore in this situation.

You know, Baltimore has so much history and tradition. We celebrated
the War of 1812. And, yet, because of what has occurred -- and we
understand -- or I understand how frustrated so many of the people in the
inner city and African-Americans are about what`s happening as far as the
police brutality throughout the country.

But we have got to deal with that, and we are dealing with that. But
the problem now is that, when you have a few individuals who take the law
into their hands, this is wrong. And it -- really, the victims more than
anybody are the people who live in these neighborhoods, which are inner
city, and neighborhoods, and not a lot of -- a lot of poverty and issues
like that.

So, we -- but you can`t tolerate looting. You can`t tolerate
individuals being -- being attacked. And that`s -- in our country, we have
to have law and order and stand up to that. And so that`s where the
situation is now.

And I`m worried about tonight. I was a former prosecutor. And I`m
worried about the darkness of night. And you had the juveniles that
participated today. And that was wrong. But now I think there are a lot
of...

MATTHEWS: Yes, we`re looking at...

RUPPERSBERGER: I understand there`s a lot of people from out of
state. And -- and I`m worried about tonight and -- and more looting and
fires, things like that.

MATTHEWS: Well, some of the people probably are hear for a peaceful
protest are wearing those 300-men march sweaters or shirts, I think that`s
a sign of civil protest, which is very appropriate.

You know, you put the three pieces together, Congressman. You work in
this area of the United States law and economic policy. And what
percentage of it is these kids have nowhere to go after they get out of
high school? I mean, the smart kids will become teachers and doctors and
lawyers, that`s the "A" students. But most kids are regular kids.

I just want -- I mean, when I grew up, in the old age, you get a job.
Now I don`t think there are jobs for these kids?

RUPPERSBERGER: They feel they`re trapped. They feel they don`t have
a life ahead of them. And that`s why you have so many kids going into
crime in inner cities and drugs and that kind of thing. We have to deal
with it. That`s why you need programs like Head Start and you need to get
the community to stand up and help it.

But you can`t take the law into your own hands with this protest. You
know, with Freddie Grays being buried today and his family saying, please,
you know, don`t disgrace Freddie Gray for whatever has happened, as wrong
as you think it might be, this is the day of his funeral and his family and
his twin sister are saying, please, make these protests nonviolent.

And they were. We were very proud of what happened and the
nonviolence on Saturday. And then, then a few people left off and then it
started. And now, it`s really taking another level. And that`s
unfortunate, but we have to have law and order. And we now have to stand
up and stop this and bring people --

MATTHEWS: OK, thank you. We`ve got a car on fire here.

RUPPERSBERGER: OK, take care.

MATTHEWS: Congressman Ruppersberger, thank you for coming on from
Baltimore.
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