After protests in Baltimore over 25-year-old Freddie Gray’s death in police custody earlier this month turned violent, a random survey in downtown Suffolk revealed dismay over citizens sabotaging their own community.

While many in Baltimore have continued exercising their First Amendment rights in peaceful protest, others — in the words of President Barack Obama — have committed criminal acts by burning cars and businesses, looting, and assaulting police officers and others.

Heather Weatherly, 37, said she hadn’t realized what was happening until Monday night. “I don’t think that destroying things is productive,” she said.

“It’s not going to prove the integrity of anyone. … I don’t think taking things out on random people is ever going to be helpful.”

The rioters won’t “get justice” behaving the way they are, according to Nikita Brown, also 37.

“Police have been doing stuff like this for years, and it’s just now catching up with them,” Brown said. “I think it’s sad that people are still getting shot and killed and dying in police custody, but what can you do?”

Brown said the behavior of rioters in Baltimore is “crazy.” “You are not going to bring the guy back. You are doing more damage than helping,” she said.

She added, “Cops definitely haven’t been playing fair for years.”

Amy Burris, 31, said it’s a shame the rioters say they are acting in the name of Gray. “Freddie Gray wouldn’t want his own home to be destroyed,” she said.

“A block away from where the incident happened, they blew up a building. I don’t think that’s what he would have wanted.”

“What are you going to solve?” questioned Doretha Beaman, 76. “They are tearing down the community they live in,” she said.

“The people that’s doing it don’t care about anything or anybody. What they are doing isn’t serving any purpose.

“No matter what, all policemen are not bad. On top of that, whatever happens, you are not serving a purpose.”

Dantwan Gatling, 29, said, “I just think it’s wrong what the cops are doing, but I don’t justify what they (the rioters) are doing.”

Gatling said he supports “fighting for justice,” but “do it in the right way.” “Doing something like robbing stores, that’s making us look bad,” he said.

The response by rioters is unnecessary, said Trey Cochran, 21.

“I get it — people are P.O.’d,” he said. “But blowing up a Walgreens isn’t going to help anything.”

The media “puts it on a whole new scale” by focusing on the violence and the race angle, according to Cochran, who added, “It’s kind of blown out of proportion already.”