I’m sure you’ve heard by now about the arrest of Freddie Gray, 25, which ultimately led to his death this past week. Gray died of spinal cord injury a week after he was taken into custody which raised alarming questions about police conduct. Following the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner, Gray’s death is another that has no answers thus far and the public is demanding them. Reminiscent of the protests against police brutality in Ferguson, MI, Baltimore now has the media magnifying glass on it as protests occur more frequently and with greater emotion each day.
The protestors started at the Western District Police Station. They then marched down Route 40, towards the city, taking MLK Boulevard before continuing to the Inner Harbor. The finished by marching down “The Block” towards City Hall and back to Western District.
Protestors held up six fingers, one for each officer under investigation for the death of Gray. A mother said to her daughter, “Don’t get too close to the pigs baby, they might shoot you.”
Police barricaded off the police station, as well as the surrounding streets. Pedestrians and cars were turned away.
All the children sat inside of a circle. Protestors whispered to each other, “Look at them. Which one of them will be next?”
Freddie Gray’s cousin, pictured below, maintained peace with police, stating that this needs to be a non-violent protest.
Protestors yelled, “There’s a march for the animals this weekend, yet it’s not ok to have one for a person?!”
A man yelled, “They want you here! City Hall isn’t even in session. This is disrupting nothing. This is where they want you.”
Police made a human chain in front of 83 South to prevent protestors from moving forward. Protestors held each other back from violent actions, despite heavy tension. Protestors yelled, “We don’t want them officers suspended. We want them fired! We want them arrested. We want them put in jail just like y’all would do to us.”
Next protest is tomorrow at 7pm (may have to double check) and Saturday at 1pm.
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