A Baltimore mother-of-six is being praised by the White House for stopping her son from rioting — by beating him into submission.
Toya Graham told news outlets, including CBS and CNN, that she wasn’t aware that she was being videotaped when she yanked her son, Michael, off the streets on Monday. The video went viral all over the world.
White House press secretary Josh Earnest said, “The thing that resonated with me is — was her expression that she was concerned about her son facing the same fate as Freddie Gray.”
In an interview with CBS News, Graham said she saw the crowd of youths throwing rocks at police, then she made eye contact with her son in the crowd.
“I could see the objects being thrown at the police, and I was like … ‘Oh, my God, this is really happening right here with me,’” Graham. And lo and behold: I turn around and I look in this crowd, and my son is actually coming across the street with this hoodie on and a mask. At that point, I just lost it.”
She told CNN’s Anderson Cooper that her biggest fear was her son would become another Freddie Gray. She was referring to the 25-year-old Baltimore man who died of a severe spinal injury while in police custody.
Cooper also interviewed 16-year-old Michael, who said his mother’s reaction was like “World War III.” He said he was initially embarrassed when his mother hit him, but he understood when she told him she did it because she cared about him.
Many viewers criticized the unemployed home health aide for the violence she inflicted upon her son. Studies show that boys who are raised by domineering mothers who assume the role of both parents confuses boys who have difficulty understanding the male role in society. Over 60% of male serial killers of women were raised by domineering single mothers.
Fox News host Greg Gutfeld noted that Graham was a single mother of six kids — 5 girls and Michael — by 6 different fathers.
Fox News host Bill O’Reilly also talked about Graham’s single mom status with Martin Luther King’s niece Alveda King, who praised young Michael for not striking his mother back.
In a twist of irony, one of Graham’s daughters submitted an application to the Baltimore Police Department in hopes of becoming a police officer.
Graham is unemployed and still looking for work so she can pay her rent.
"I was just like 'Oh man…'" Michael talks about spotting his mother just before #BaltimoreRiots beating http://t.co/4m5Tklaode
— Anderson Cooper 360° (@AC360) April 30, 2015
