The sight of a crowd of Baltimore looters parting as an angry mother cut her own son from the herd, is an awe inspiring example of the ferocity of a mother’s love. Toya Graham recalls the moment she saw her son with vandals.
“I could see the objects being thrown at the police – and low and behind my son is across the street with his hoodie on and a mask…And I just lost it.” The mother of 16-year-old Michael said she was “Shocked and angry.” She explained her reaction; “he gave me eye contact and I just lost it.”
The last thing on Toya Graham’s mind were the cameras – but to her son’s dismay, a local news channel caught every moment of his mom slapping him, as did several people with smart phones, making him a viral hit – as well. .
Toya Graham explained;”That’s my only son and I don’t want him to be another Freddie Gray; but to stand up there and vandalize police officers, that’s not justice.” Toya says she is not tolerant of bad behavior, adding; “He knew he was in trouble.” Michael later admitted to his mother, that his first instinct was to run when he saw her.
If Michael doesn’t die of embarrassment from his viral social media coverage, he may learn a life lesson from the experience. Mom Toya says that Michael’s Facebook friends have left comments telling him him that he shouldn’t be angry with his mother, but should give her a hug
. Mom says, “I just hope he understands the seriousness of what was going on last night.”