Baltimore TV station WMAR reported that a mother saw her son on television taking part in protests and went to confront him, slapping him. (AP) 
 
 A woman seen berating and hitting a black-clad teenager, later confirmed to be her son, has been hailed as “mom of the year” after her intervention on the streets of Baltimore was caught on video. As violence flared up across the city on Monday, the woman, who was identified as Toya Graham on Tuesday afternoon, was filmed telling her child to “take that f—— mask off.” 
 
 [I was knocked to the ground by Freddie Gray rioters, then helped to my feet] 
 
 Graham spoke to CBS News about the video, which initially went viral with little context. In the interview, the single mother of six tells the network that she intervened out of concern for her 16-year-old son’s safety. 
 
 “That’s my only son, and at the end of the day, I don’t want him to be a Freddie Gray,” Graham said. “But to stand up there and vandalize police officers, that’s not justice.” 
 
 Fox Business contributor Charles Payne drew attention to the video in a tweet on Monday. (Fair warning, basically every video in this article will contain profanity.) 
 
 Mom of the year in Baltimore…my mother would have did same thing…https://t.co/vjxpD7hNwq — Charles V Payne (@cvpayne) April 28, 2015 
 
 By late Monday, videos of the incident were so widespread that Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony Batts brought it up in an overnight news conference. 
 
 “And if you saw in one scene, you had 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,” Batts told reporters. “I wish I had more parents who took charge of their kids tonight. I think these were youth coming out of the high school and they thought it was cute to throw cinder blocks at the police department and address it that way.” 
 
 [About that Baltimore mom…] 
 
 Baltimore’s ABC affiliate, WMAR, caught the encounter on camera but initially provided only this as an explanation: 
 
 This Baltimore mom saw her son throwing rocks at police on television. That didn’t sit well with her. The video shows the mother repeatedly striking her boy, chasing him as he tries to walk away. 
 
 The clip emerged alongside widely broadcast images of violence that dotted some sections of Baltimore on Monday afternoon and evening. 
 
 https://instagram.com/p/1_jHvQJfGC/ 
 
 As The Washington Post has reported, it doesn’t appear that the violence stemmed from organized protests over the death of Freddie Gray, who died of a severe spinal injury suffered while in police custody. His funeral was held Monday. 
 
 [A Freddie Gray primer: Who was he, how did he die, why is there so much anger?] 
 
 Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said late Monday that the day’s violence was the result of “thugs who always want to incite violence and destroy our city. Too many people have spent generations building up this city for it to be destroyed by thugs who, in a very senseless way, are trying to tear down what so many have fought for.” 
 
 Although the video of one mom expressing frustration over the violence may stand out as a positive moment in an increasingly grim situation, there have been others. On Tuesday morning, volunteers took to the streets to help clean up the mess left behind. 
 
 Large group of volunteers cleaning up that burnt out CVS in Baltimore pic.twitter.com/84BVzu7SWS — justin jouvenal (@jjouvenal) April 28, 2015 
 
 [This post, initially published at 8:22 a.m., has been updated to include information from a CBS interview with Toya Graham] 
 
 For live coverage of the unrest and events in Baltimore, follow The Post’s live blog here. 
 
 MORE READING: ‘Wire’ creator David Simon: Baltimore violence ‘needs to cease’ 
 
 At Freddie Gray’s funeral, outrage over way in which he died 
 
 Why didn’t #FreddieGray trend on Twitter? 
 
 Friends and neighbors remember Freddie Gray: He ‘was our family’ 
 
 As Baltimore mayor, critics say, O’Malley’s police tactics sowed distrust ||||| Please enable Javascript to watch this video 
 
 BALTIMORE, Maryland -- A woman in Baltimore is being praised for what she did after she spotted her son taking part in the rioting in the streets of Baltimore. 
 
 A WMAR news photographer videotaped her berating her son for taking part in the violence. 
 
 The woman can be seen repeatedly slapping her son and yelling at him. The woman was reportedly watching TV when she saw her son throwing rocks at police. 
 
 The woman got the attention of Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony Watts. 
 
 "If you saw on one scene, you had one mother who grabbed her child who had a hood on his head and she started smacking him on the head because she was so embarrassed," Watts said. "I wish I had more parents that took charge of their kids out there tonight." 
 
 Fox News contributer Charles Payne called the woman "Mom of the year" in a tweet. It was retweeted dozens of times and favorited by more than 100 people. ||||| The Baltimore mother caught on video repeatedly smacking her son after catching him participating in rioting in Baltimore told CBS News that she was only concerned about protecting him. 
 
 Toya Graham CBS News 
 
 "He gave me eye contact. And at that point, you know, not even thinking about cameras or anything like that. That's my only son and at the end of the day I don't want him to be a Freddie Gray," Toya Graham said, referencing the 25-year-old man who died after mysteriously sustaining severe spinal injuries in police custody earlier in the month. His death has sparked protests throughout the city, with tensions boiling over Monday. 
 
 Graham told CBS News she launched into action after spotting her 16-year-old son Michael wearing a hoodie and mask amid the protesters. 
 
 "At that point, I just lost it," said Graham. "I was shocked, I was angry, because you never want to see your child out there doing that." 
 
 Graham, a single mom with six children, denounced the vandalism and violence against police officers. She said rioting in Baltimore is no way to go about getting justice for Freddie Gray and that she doesn't want that life for her son. 
 
 Toya Graham lays into her son Michael after seeing him with the protesters. CBS News 
 
 "There's some days that I'll shield him in the house just so he won't go outside and I know that I can't do that for the rest of my life," said Graham. "I'm a no-tolerant mother. Everybody that knows me, know I don't play that." 
 
 It's that reputation that made her son wince the second he saw her. 
 
 "He knew he was in trouble," said Graham. "He said when 'I seen you,' he said, 'ma, my instinct was to run.'" 
 
 Graham says after she got her son home they both watched news coverage of the demonstrations and riots on television. As images of her reaction started to go viral, Graham says comments started appearing on her son's Facebook page, many in support of her. 
 
 "Friends and everybody making comments and saying you know, you shouldn't be mad at your mother, you should give her a hug," said Graham. 
 
 Graham hopes the incident will serve as a teachable moment for her son. 
 
 "And by him seeing everything what's going on I just hope, I'm not sure, but I hope that he understands the seriousness of what was going on last night." 
 
 The video has been widely circulated as people look for answers to the violence, and it even drew the attention of Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony Batts. 
 
 "I wish I had more parents who took charge of their kids tonight," he said, according to CBS Baltimore. 
 
 Graham told CBS News she thinks the situation wouldn't have been as bad if there were more mothers out there monitoring their sons. But she acknowledged there are some circumstances that can prevent moms from from doing that. 
 
 "We don't know where those mothers are at, a lot of mothers have to provide for their children," said Graham. "You can talk blue in your face to your children, but at the end of the day they gonna make their own decisions. As parents we just have to follow through to make sure that's where they supposed to be at." 
 
 Commissioner Batts told reporters late Monday night that a bulk of the rioters who pelted officers with rocks and bricks, inciting a massive display of looting and vandalism across parts of West Baltimore were area high schoolers. 
 
 "These are Baltimore youthful residents, a number of them came right out of the local high schools there on the other side of Mondawmin and started engaging in this," said Batts. "I think these were youth coming out of the high school and they thought it was cute to throw cinder blocks at the police department and address it that way." 
 
 At least 20 police officers were injured in the violence and one person was critically hurt in a fire, according to authorities. Police made 235 arrests, including 34 juveniles. 
 
 The streets were calmer Tuesday as the National Guard deployed. A 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew remained in effect. ||||| BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Fifteen Baltimore City police officers were injured, multiple vehicles were vandalized and set on fire, and businesses were looted as a massive group of rioters ran wild along North Avenue early Monday evening. 
 
 As a result, a city-wide curfew was put in place in an effort to restore order. 
 
 “I am extremely disappointed in this beautiful city tonight, I’m disappointed in the fact that the damage has been done to these communities, I’m disappointed that we cannot be more responsible in an embarrassment that we have nationwide in our community,” said Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony Batts. “This is not protesting, this is not your First Amendment rights, this is just criminal acts doing damage to a community that is challenged in some ways that do not need this and do not need to be harmed in a way that we have today.” 
 
 It’s believed the riots may be a result of fliers that were apparently shared over the weekend on social media asking high schoolers to rally at Mondawmin Mall. It was supposed to be a peaceful march for Freddie Gray that extended from Mondawmin Mall to The Avenue. 
 
 Instead, things quickly spiraled out of control. 
 
 “These are Baltimore youthful residents, a number of them came right out of the local high schools there on the other side of Mondawmin and started engaging in this. 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,” said Commissioner Batts. “I think these were youth coming out of the high school and they thought it was cute to throw cinder blocks at the police department and address it that way.” 
 
 Police said the hurt officers suffered injuries from flying debris in the melee as rioters began attacking them unprovoked. At least one was knocked unconscious. Six officers remained hospitalized Monday night at Shock Trauma in serious condition. They are all expected to be OK. Twenty-seven suspects were arrested. 
 
 By 7 p.m., Gov. Larry Hogan declared a state of emergency and activated the National Guard to address the growing violence and unrest. Many businesses in downtown Baltimore closed early and streets were eerily quiet as workers and residents feared the protests and violence would return to the heart of Charm City. 
 
 “I have not made this decision lightly. The National Guard represents a last resort in order to restore order,” said Hogan. “People have the right to protest and express their frustration, but Baltimore City families deserve peace and safety in their communities and these acts of violence and destruction of property cannot and will not be tolerated.” 
 
 Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake declared a week-long curfew to be in effect from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. in the city in an effort to curb further violence and rioting. This curfew is in addition to the juvenile curfew already in effect for the city. 
 
 “What we see going on tonight that is going on in our city is very disturbing. It is very clear there is a difference between what we saw over the past week with the peaceful protests, those who wish to seek justice, those who wish to be heard and want answers, and the difference between those protests and the thugs who only want to incite violence and destroy our city,” said Rawlings-Blake during a press conference Monday evening. 
 
 The mayor said the only exceptions for people to be on the streets during the curfew would be for medical emergencies or those going to work. 
 
 “I’m a life-long resident of Baltimore, and too many people have spent generations building up this city for it to be destroyed by thugs who, in a very senseless way, are trying to tear down what so many have fought for,” she said. “We are deploying every resource possible to gain control of the situation and to ensure peace moving forward.” 
 
 Rep. Elijah Cummings decried the violence to WJZ’s Derek Valcourt outside City Hall. 
 
 “We’re better than this, and I know that people are upset, but this is not the way to go about change,” said Cummings. “When we see policemen being hit, stores being broken into and burned, that’s not who we are. I’m asking people to refrain from that. This is our city. After all the cameras are gone, we still have to live here.” 
 
 Most of the violence was contained to the area around North Ave. at Pennsylvania Ave., reported WJZ’s Sky Eye Chopper 13 Captain Jeff Long from Sky Eye Chopper 13. 
 
 WJZ’s Christie Ileto witnessed students and other participants throwing rocks and bricks at officers in riot gear. Tear gas and pepper spray were utilized by officers and Ileto received treatment from police after the wind carried pepper spray into her face. 
 
 “This is nothing like Saturday’s protests, nothing,” Ileto said. 
 
 The baseball game scheduled to be played between the Orioles and the Chicago White Sox was canceled after officials consulted with Baltimore Police. No makeup date has been announced yet. 
 
 LIVE BLOG | View Slideshow | WATCH WJZ Coverage LIVE | Closings & Delays | DISCUSS: CBS Baltimore On Facebook 
 
 Some of the worst damage came at a CVS store at Pennsylvania Ave. and North Ave. where looters ransacked the building. Several police vehicles were also set on fire nearby. By 6:30 p.m., that CVS was engulfed in flames. Thick clouds of dark smoke could be seen billowing from the store across the city. 
 
 Police said members of the group rioting at Pennsylvania and North Aveenues cut the fire hose while they were attempting to put out the blaze. 
 
 “It’s idiotic to think that by destroying your city, you’re gonna make life better for anybody,” the mayor said. 
 
 Sky Eye Chopper 13 also appeared to show one looter who backed up a car to the other side of CVS and was loading it up with goods from the store. 
 
 Another vehicle was seen driving onto the sidewalk directly in front of the store through the crowd. 
 
 Long said the group that caused damage to the CVS eventually looted a check cashing business. Dozens could be seen surrounding that business as some ran in and out of the broken building. 
 
 Looting reportedly spread to Lexington Market in downtown Baltimore by 8:30 on Monday night. A cell phone store, poultry market, and 7-Eleven near the market were destroyed by looters during the protest on Saturday night. 
 
 Officers used mace and what appeared to be tear gas to disperse crowds. 
 
 “We don’t want to see any level of unnecessary violence. We’re using appropriate crowd control tactics. You’re going to see us continue to use gas, pepper balls and other means in order to bring about order, but we have to do it in a way that’s responsible,” said Kowalczyk. “We can’t rush in, we don’t want to put innocent people at risk. We don’t want to put our officers at risk and we certainly don’t want to put the community at risk.” 
 
 City Council President Jack Young urged rioters to “stop the madness.” 
 
 “We can not go back to 1968 where we burned down our own infrastructure and our own neighborhoods. We still have scars from 1968 where we had some burnt out building and businesses did not want to come back to the city of Baltimore. We have to stop the burning down and the breaking in of these stores because in the end it hurts us as a people,” he said. “This is no reason to loot and rob in the city of Baltimore. The whole world is watching us and some people are even calling us animals.” 
 
 99.1 WNEW reporter Steve Dorsey was attacked by one person while covering the riots near the CVS. 
 
 “I was just about to do a live shot on the phone when out of no where a protester came up in front of me, shouted something at me, hit me in the face. I fell down and my phone dropped out of my hand and at that point he was going to kick me while I was laying down on the asphalt, and a few other protesters intervened and they pushed that guy back and I was able to escape with the help, limping, with some other protesters,” he told WJZ’s Mary Bubala. 
 
 Dorsey said he witnessed “nothing but chaos” as he covered the riots. 
 
 “I actually saw a fire truck pull up to the scene, stay about two minutes — there were only two firefighters on board — and just left. There was really nothing they could do in an uncontrolled chaotic scene like that. Also the back of a police van was completely wide open. A witness told me he actually saw someone steal a shotgun out of the van and leave with it,” he added. 
 
 Senator Catherine Pugh joined WJZ’s Christie Ileto shortly after the violent riots broke out. She urged parents to call their children and make sure they were safe. 
 
 “What the family of Freddie Gray has asked is that there be peace in the streets today and that even when we begin to protest again, and we know that people are looking for justice, let’s do this peacefully,” she said. “I’m looking down the street smoke, seeing cars being burned in our neighborhood. This is not the way. I’m asking people in Baltimore, please let’s quell the violence. If we want to protest, we can begin tomorrow but let’s do it in a peaceful way because that is the only way that the public gets to see that we care about our city, that we care about violence against our people and we can do better than what’s being done today.” 
 
 Residents were stunned by the chaos and disorder that controlled the area. One resident known as “Cool Anthony” on social media told WJZ’s Marcus Washington he was hoping for a peaceful end to the situation. 
 
 “We have to live here, this is our home. We didn’t live in the best neighborhoods as there was, but now it’s like you all are breaking into stores and taking things like toilet tissue and dollar bills, for what? You’re not doing it for Freddie no more, ya’al are doing it for your own personal enjoyment now,” he said. 
 
 This all comes hours after the funeral for Freddie Gray, despite his family asking there be no protests 
 
 “The family is dead set against what they’re seeing and hearing about violence. They know non-violence is the only way to deal with this problem. We don’t need to hurt innocent people, innocent police officers, because the majority of police officers are law-abiding,” said Gray family attorney Billy Murphy. “This is something that we need to come together as a community and get out in the streets ourselves and have peaceful marches to set an example for these kids. They don’t know. They just don’t know.” 
 
 Attorney General Loretta Lynch told President Obama she would continue to monitor events in Baltimore and the Department of Defense stands ready to provide any assistance needed. 
 
 Baltimore City Schools released this statement, saying: 
 
 “At this time of tension and anxiety regarding the tragic events surrounding Mr. Freddie Gray, we have a heightened responsibility to our students, families, and school communities. First, the safety of our staff and students is our top concern. We are in constant contact with the Mayor’s Office, Baltimore City Police Department, and the City Health Department, and are coordinating with them to ensure we are ready to respond to situations as they arise. We will make crisis counselors and mental health professionals available at schools throughout the city for all of our students, and they will remain as long as it is necessary. Additionally, we have redeployed senior district staff and mobile units to assist in ensuring safe passage of our students between school buildings and bus stops.” 
 
 We are also communicating with each one of our school leaders around effective instructional strategies to heighten student awareness and understanding of social justice issues. We are deeply concerned about our students and community, and we hope to treat this situation not only as a teachable moment but also a time for thoughtful reflection on how we can reduce conflict and violence in our society. We will continue to be vigilant in our support for all of the city’s young people.” 
 
 Anne Arundel County schools have canceled all field trips into Baltimore City through May 3. 
 
 Police are asking motorists to avoid the area of Gwynns Falls, Reisterstown and Liberty Heights. 
 
 E. Fayette is closed between and President and Gay streets as well. 
 
 The MTA says that due to police activity, trains will be bypassing Lexington, Upton, State Center, Mondawmin and Penn North Metro stations. 
 
 For a full list of closings and delays, CLICK HERE. 
 
 Stay with WJZ and CBSBaltimore.com for the latest on this developing story. ||||| Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony W. Batts apologized to the city's officers Tuesday night, saying he put them in harm's way during the Freddie Gray unrest last month. 
 
 The Baltimore Sun has obtained an audio recording of his comments, which he made during a meeting with members of the police union. 
 
 Batts said he failed to follow his intuition that problems were coming and officers got hurt as a result. He concluded his comments, which lasted about four minutes, by urging officers to stay focused on fighting crime. 
 
 "We had a 9-year-old kid shot yesterday by these knuckleheads, gangsters, thugs, whatever you want to call them," he said. "We have innocent people getting shot on the streets of Baltimore. 
 
 "People think we're down. People are giving up on us," Batts said. "I mean this with all my heart: We need to show how f-----g good we are. ... I stand ready to lead you out of this." 
 
 Batts addresses the FOP Audio (edited for language) from Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony Batts' apology to the FOP for letting them down as crime in the city has spiked in recent weeks. (Baltimore Sun) Audio (edited for language) from Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony Batts' apology to the FOP for letting them down as crime in the city has spiked in recent weeks. (Baltimore Sun) See more videos 
 
 Batts spoke four weeks after the city erupted in riots. On the day of Gray's funeral, people threw rocks at police and looted and burned businesses. Officials said more than 100 police officers were injured. 
 
 The riots ended after a day, but street violence in Baltimore has surged in the weeks since, with 41 people killed and dozens more shot and wounded. 
 
 During the same period, department figures show, officers have made less than half as many arrests as before the unrest. That has led to questions about whether they are easing up on the job. 
 
 Gene Ryan, president of the Fraternal Order of Police, said he invited Batts to speak to members. The union is conducting what Ryan has called an unprecedented review of the decision-making the day of the riots, including whether officers were properly equipped and the types of orders they were given. 
 
 Ryan said he believes many officers want the commissioner to be replaced, but he wants to complete the review. 
 
 "We'll make a decision which way we'll go then," Ryan said. He praised Batts for appearing and speaking at the meeting. 
 
 Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake also lauded Batts for appearing and for the "frank" comments he made. 
 
 "It's very clear the relationship between the commissioner and the rank-and-file is strained," she said. "The commissioner is working very hard to repair that relationship. I think it's essential for the department to continue to move forward that they have that ability to have those open dialogues, to get things off their chests, for the commissioner to say how he feels to the rank-and-file officers." 
 
 The mayor described the challenge confronting Batts. 
 
 "He has a dual role in the sense that he has to be the leader of the department in good times and challenging times and he also has an obligation to the community," she said. "It's often challenging to balance on that tight rope. I commend him for doing the outreach he's done in the community and also having frank and tough conversations with the FOP." 
 
 Batts told the officers that he took time during the holiday weekend to "look at myself and things that I wasn't understanding, nor was I hearing." 
 
 "I want to come here and tell you guys that I think I let you guys down," he said. "I say that with a humble heart, I say that with honesty, and I say it coming from my heart." 
 
 Batts said he "saw this stuff coming." He was apparently referring to the unrest. 
 
 "In my intuition, I didn't stay with it," he said. "People said, 'We haven't had a riot here in 40 years,' and my intuition told me I should've went another direction. And by not going another direction, my guys got hurt. By not going with my intuition, my guys got hurt. By not going with my intuition, I put you guys in a tough position." 
 
 Reached for comment Wednesday, Batts wrote in an email that he has tried to improve police training since coming to Baltimore in 2012, and the local demonstrations that followed the deaths of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., Eric Garner in New York and others had given officers experience with crowd control. 
 
 But he wrote that he had yet to implement "mobile field force" training, which prepares departments to handle "aggressive crowds." 
 
 "It is true that officers have felt vulnerable, frustrated, hurt, and off-balance," Batts wrote. "It is imperative that officers feel they are appreciated, are assured that people care about them and the difference they make in our city every day. Central to my job as a leader is to ensure that our officers know this." 
 
 Batts told reporters last week he had experienced "seven or eight" riots in his police career. He started reaching out to other police agencies to secure extra resources in the days leading up to the first large-scale protest downtown. 
 
 "There were good things, there were bad things," he told reporters. "There are things we can grow and learn from." 
 
 Some have said officers were told to "stand down," and Ryan said that will be part of the union's review. 
 
 The officers "feel like they have no control. Everything was thrust upon them," Ryan said last week. "We want them to have a voice and feel like they have a little bit of control." 
 
 Batts told the officers Tuesday night that he understood their frustrations. 
 
 "You guys have been f----d so many different ways, excuse my language, whether it's through your retirement, whether through pay, whether through so many times you have been screwed around time and time again, and you believe I let you down again too and that I screwed you. I didn't try to screw you. 
 
 "From day one when I walked in, officers' safety has been job one for me. But I got my guys hurt and I've got to own that." 
 
 Baltimore Sun reporter Luke Broadwater contributed to this article. 
 
 jfenton@baltsun.com
– A Baltimore woman who reportedly saw a young man she knew (some speculate it's her son) on TV throwing rocks at police during city protests took matters into her own hands—literally, per WMAR. A video shows her yesterday dragging a teen sporting a face-covering sweatshirt away from the crowds, hitting him in the face, and yelling, "Take that f---ing mask off!" and "You wanna be out here doing this stuff?!" The kid skulks away with her hot on his tail, and the video—shown from various angles at Independent Journal Review—went viral on social media, with some, like Fox News contributor Charles Payne, calling her the "mom of the year," per WGN. "My mother would have done the same thing," Payne tweeted. Meanwhile, at a press conference last night, Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony Batts said, per the Washington Post, "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." (The Orioles COO has his own controversial take on the protests.)