On March 4, 2010, the 22nd-ranked University of Maryland’s Men’s basketball team pulled an upset win over then fourth-place ranked Duke University. After rushing the court, Terrapin fans them promptly stormed into the streets of College Park, blocking traffic, destroying property, screaming and rioting. 

They clashed with police officers, fully decked in riot gear. The incident garnered national attention when a student was filmed receiving a brutal beatdown from nightstick-wielding cops despite his posing no threat whatsoever to anybody.  After his arrest, the police report accused him of aggressively approaching a horse, which was proven false by the video. Several officers, as well as the Prince George’s County Chief of Police, lost their jobs over the incident, several more were indicted and may face jail time. The victim of the incident, Andrew McKenna, was forbidden from revealing his settlement, but rumors swirled around campus that he quit his job the day he received it.

I remember the riot vividly. I remember students chanting curses at the police in unison. I still see the snowballs, pumpkins, and other objects flying through the air toward the line of riot police. I recall a young student, soaked in pepper spray, pleading that he...More >>