Things are beginning to look scary in Baltimore

that is a good question and I guess maybe I look at it this way. The majority of the rioters and looters in Baltimore and Ferguson and following these incidences shown on tv are black rioting over what they perceive as an injustice toward a race. The damage and the riots themselves are meant to destroy and can last a week.

The college kids are typically not of a single race, though the idiots I've seen are typically white. The riots I remember after events are not near as violent or destructive, though they are both and they last only a couple of hours. The rioters in those cases are out to injure people or burn buildings down.

Maybe I worded it wrong originally, but maybe not. These riots aren't furthering any cause and instead people say, there they go rioting again. Look at those thugs. It's no wonder the police have to use force...

The empathy doesn't land with the young black population, but instead with the store owners and the police and the young and the old. They are doing the opposite of what they should

That is horrible NoWomanNoCry that the police department doesn't provide these things. I am very surprised to hear this. But I think I would make it a top priority to find the money to get him one. I hope his new job offer will make that happen. But if it doesn't maybe when his birthday rolls around or Christmas or any other event where people ask what he wants for a gift, you can explain that you all are worried about his safety and that he is saving up for a new vest. Then they can donate money toward it instead of buying other presents.
I don't know, I think I would consider putting one on a credit card or borrowing the money to get him this. That way you could at least make payments. Sell some things on Craigslist, eBay or a Facebook buy sell trade page for your area and start saving the money toward the vest? Do some babysitting? Have him mow lawns for neighbors? Really anything that you can do to make the extra money to get one. Sometimes if we can't cut anything out of our normal spending, we have to think of ways to bring more money in. It is likely that if family and friends know about this, that he is going without protective gear, they would be happy to pitch in in some way, even if it is loaning you the money, or having your family members do some odd jobs for them.
I would for sure donate to a GoFundMe for something like this and I would bet many others would too.

I actually appreciate the President's words. He wasn't quick to apply guilt until the facts are in, he expressed that the riots have nothing to do with Gray, they have everything to do with being criminal thugs, and he also addressed the plight found in urban areas and the vicious cycles that surround them making people feel trapped and unable to get up and out of there. 

Unfortunately how can we change the economic climate in these areas is something that I'm really hoping we can figure out. I think this is a major factor, but riots like these are prone to cause businesses not only to leave the area, but new businesses from choosing those areas to open in. This reduces jobs and opportunities for everyone. We also need to focus on education in these areas, but there is only so much that we can do in offering opportunities if the mentalities such as those of the rioters doesn't change along with it. These thugs and gang members don't want things to change, they want to maintain their "control" of the streets, and unfortunately the good people there suffer for it. Which brings about the need for changes to our drug laws. The war on drugs gave rise to the gangs. The war on drugs feeds the gang control and power, it also strips children of parents who are sent to jail for victim-less crimes of drug use and possession. Instead of arresting these men and women for drug charges, how about we provide them treatment options, take away the threat of jail and maybe more would seek treatment. We also need to do something in regards to increasing our actions in the prevention of HIV and STD transmission which is growing exponentially in these areas even with all the knowledge we have, and we need to strengthen our provision of needles, condoms, and now PreP. Yes there will always be contrasts in the level of "wealth", but we can certainly be doing more to increase aid and awareness and opportunities to escape the inner city, while at the same time rebuilding it, gentrification (while continuing to make it affordable).