Toya Graham: At no time is my son a thug Baltimore mom who slapped son: He was embarrassing himself Michael Singleton tells Anderson Cooper that he understands why his mother slapped him in the middle of the Baltimore riots. Toya Graham explains to CNN's Anderson Cooper that she wasn't going to tolerate her son taking part in the riot. Related: Toya Graham FULL INTERVIEW - Baltimore Mom Hits Son During Riots: 'I Just Lost It' |CBS VIDEO CNN FULL INTERVIEW - Baltimore's 'Mom of the Year': To see my son at riots with rock in hand, "I just lost it", on why she smacked rioting son Toya Graham FULL INTERVIEW- Baltimore Mom Slaps Son During Riots: 'I Was Shock' |VIDEO (CBS News) Toya Graham spotted her 16-year-old son in a crowd of teens vandalizing and looting during the Baltimore riots Monday. Cameras captured the moment she confronted and struck the boy, and the video went viral. Graham, a single mother of six, joins "CBS This Morning" exclusively to talk about what happened after the video where she showed tough love for her son. 'Mother Of The Year' "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." INTERVIEW Video: Toya Graham, Baltimore mom seen reprimanding her son for allegedly throwing rocks at the police says, 'That's my only son. At the end of the day, I don't want him to be a Freddie Gray' Baltimore mom who smacked son during riots: "I don't want him to be a Freddie Gray" (CNN)—The Baltimore mother who slapped her son several times and pulled him out of a protest told CNN on Wednesday she wasn't concerned that she might be embarrassing her son. "Not at all," Toya Graham told CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360˚" in an interview that aired Wednesday night. "He was embarrassing himself by wearing that mask and that hoodie and doing what he was doing." The video of Graham yanking her son, Michael Singleton, and slapping him with a right hand as CNN affiliate WMAR recorded has led to the Internet calling Graham #motheroftheyear. Many people have praised the unemployed, single mother of six for going to the Mondawmin Mall and getting her son away from the escalating violence. Graham told Cooper that she saw her son with a brick in his hand, and she lost control of her emotions and told him to drop it. Wednesday night: Across United States, protests in support of Baltimore demonstrators "I did (get emotional). You know, once he threw that rock down I said, 'You weren't brought up like this,' " Graham said. He's not a perfect child, but he's also not a thug, she said. The 16-year-old boy said he understood that his mother was there looking out for him. "She didn't want me to get in trouble (with the) law. She didn't want me to be like another Freddie Gray," he said, referring to the 25-year-old man who died of a severe spinal injury after being arrested by Baltimore police. Gray's death has sparked daily protests over police brutality. There have also been riots and looting that prompted the city to put a curfew into effect. "He knew he was in trouble," said Graham. "He said when 'I seen you,' he said, 'ma, my instinct was to run.'" "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. "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." 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. Related: Toya Graham Baltimore Mom Who Smacks Son During Riots Interview: 'I Don't Want Him to be a Freddie Gray' |VIDEO CNN Reporter Hit with Pepper Spray on Live TV ‘It Definitely Does Hurt’ - Ryan Young, Baltimore Related: Baltimore Mayor and Maryland Governor Walk Of Baltimore Protesters Set CVS Store On Fire after Looting; Heavy Smoke in Area | RAW VIDEO HD Baltimore Bank Looting: Protesters Loot Baltimore City Bank in Riots, Freddie Gray Protest VIDEO HD Baltimore Protesters DESTROY Police Car as Officer Briefing at Press Conference |VIDEO REPORT HD Baltimore Mayor: We Give Protesters Space to Destroy | Stephanie Rawlings-Blake Press Conference CAUGHT ON CAMERA: Mother WHOOPS Son's AZZ for RIOTING During Baltimore PROTEST!! Mother of a Baltimore Rioter catches son apart of the riot and slaps him silly! Angry mother beats son for participating in Baltimore riots Ferguson Activist Smacks Down CNN Blitzer on Baltimore: Broken Windows Are Worse Than Spines? CNN Brooke Baldwin Blames Military Veterans For Baltimore Riots Toya Graham FULL INTERVIEW - Baltimore Mom Hits Son During Riots: 'I Just Lost It' |CBS VIDEO video footage caught on tape cellphone camera surveillance raw dash cam air live on tv share comment like most popular

• published: 30 Apr 2015
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