Baltimore Mother Who Whupped Her Rioting Kid Explains Actions On CBS This Morning
WASHINGTON (CBS Local) -- The Baltimore mother caught on video scolding and hitting her son who was taking part in Monday's riots appeared on CBS This Morning Wednesday, telling the hosts that she reacted the way she did because many of his friends have been killed and she doesn't want to see him meet the same fate.
Toya Graham says her son, who is 16, has been in trouble before but "knows right from wrong."
She said she was disappointed to see him throwing rocks at police officers and her intention was just to get him to safety. "I just lost it," said Graham.
Graham, a single mother of six, also says she doesn't feel like a hero, as she is being called in the national media.
In fact, the first thing she thought when she saw the video was: "Oh my God, my pastor is going to have a fit," she says.
Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony Batts even acknowledged the Graham's actions during a press conference early Tuesday morning.
"And if you saw in one scene, you had one a mother who grabbed their child who had a hood on his head and she started smacking him on the head because she was so embarrassed. I wish I had more parents who took charge of their kids tonight," Batts said.