Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake was touched by violence eight years ago when heryounger brother arrived at her house after being stabbed. After the stabbing death of a young Johns Hopkins researcher, she has been thinking about the moment that she says helped shape the way she views violent crime, says the Baltimore Sun.
“There is no acceptable amount of death. There is no acceptable level of violence,” said Rawlings-Blake. “This is more than a public safety issue. This is a moral issue. All the communities affected by violence need to be as outraged and as determined to pursue justice.” Rawlings-Blake said the attack on her brother furthered her resolve to push for stricter penalties for violent criminals. Two people with a long history of drug abuse and violent offenses are being charged in the death of John Hopkins’ Stephen Pitcairn, 23.