Demonstrators don police hats taken from a damaged police car while protesting the death of Freddie Gray in Baltimore on April 25.(Photo: Jim Watson, AFP/Getty Images)
The wake for Freddie Gray was set for Sunday afternoon, hours after a largely peaceful protest over his death disintegrated into chaos and violence on Baltimore streets.
The funeral for Gray, a black man who died one week ago of injuries sustained while in police custody, will take place Monday.
A rally Saturday began as a peaceful protest of more than 1,000 people. Police Commissioner Anthony Batts said he moved through the crowd, sharing with them that "we are making deep systemic changes in the culture of this organization. The people were very receptive."
Batts, who is black, said 12 "violent agitators" were arrested after the organized protest had essentially wrapped up.
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Windows were smashed, police were pelted with bottles, and several protestors were arrested as a peaceful rally unraveled in Baltimore. Demonstrators were demanding justice for Freddie Gray, who was fatally injured in police custody. VPC
"They became very violent, they began to throw objects," Batts said. "They picked up aluminum barricades and smashed windows at our bars and pubs."
He said some residents moved between police and the angry crowd, urging the protesters not to damage the city. He commended police officers for showing "tremendous restraint" and city residents for helping tamping down the unrest.
"I am proud of our residents and our police officers," Batts said. "The vast majority of residents out here did a good job. ... A small number of people felt like they had to turn this into an ugly day."
Batts stressed that the 1,200 officers providing security Saturday had no interest in curbing the right to freedom of expression. His department tweeted: "We are continuing to facilitate everyone's First Amendment rights to protest and be heard. Please remain peaceful."
Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake held a news conference at City Hall late Saturday with Gray's twin sister, Fredericka, and activist pastor Jamal Bryant appealing for calm.
"My family wants to say please, please stop the violence," Fredricka Gray said. "Freddie Gray would not want this."
A video posted by a reporter for The Baltimore Sun showed a man smashing a trash can on the window of a police car. Others climbed on nearby parked cars.
Protesters had promised this would be their biggest march yet after near-daily demonstrations since Gray's death. Police have acknowledged that Gray did not receive medical attention early enough after being taken into custody and that Gray was not buckled into a seat belt when he was transported in a police van after he was arrested April 12.
Gray, 25, died of a mysterious spinal injury that he suffered while in police custody. His lawyer, William Murphy, has said Gray never should have been arrested in the first place.
Deputy Commissioner Kevin Davis, who is leading the police investigation into Gray's death, said three bike officers encountered Gray and another man. Both men ran from police, who chased the pair through a neighborhood on the city's west side for several blocks.
Davis said the officers caught up with Gray, held him down, found a knife in his pocket, handcuffed him and loaded him into the van. Davis said Gray should have received medical attention at that time.
A bystander's video shows Gray being dragged to the van, screaming in pain. Gray asked for medical help several times, beginning before he was placed in the van, police said. After a 30-minute ride that included three stops, paramedics were called. Authorities have not explained how or when Gray's spine was injured.
Malik Shabazz, a leader of Black Lawyers for Justice, has been among those demanding the arrest of six officers involved in the arrest. The officers were suspended with pay, and Davis has said he plans on issuing a report by May 1. The U.S. Justice Department is reviewing the case for any civil rights violations, and Gray's family is conducting their own probe.
Saturday's march attracted people from beyond the Baltimore area. Larry Holmes, 63, came from New York and expressed anger at the mayor and other officials who warned about outsiders agitating violence, The Washington Post reported.
"If I'm an outside agitator, guilty as charged," Holmes said. "We need more outside agitators to reclaim our communities."
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Demonstrators don police hats taken from a damaged police car while protesting the death of Freddie Gray in Baltimore on April 25.(Photo: Jim Watson, AFP/Getty Images)
The wake for Freddie Gray was set for Sunday afternoon, hours after a largely peaceful protest over his death disintegrated into chaos and violence on Baltimore streets.
The funeral for Gray, a black man who died one week ago of injuries sustained while in police custody, will take place Monday.
A rally Saturday began as a peaceful protest of more than 1,000 people. Police Commissioner Anthony Batts said he moved through the crowd, sharing with them that "we are making deep systemic changes in the culture of this organization. The people were very receptive."
Batts, who is black, said 12 "violent agitators" were arrested after the organized protest had essentially wrapped up.
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Windows were smashed, police were pelted with bottles, and several protestors were arrested as a peaceful rally unraveled in Baltimore. Demonstrators were demanding justice for Freddie Gray, who was fatally injured in police custody. VPC
"They became very violent, they began to throw objects," Batts said. "They picked up aluminum barricades and smashed windows at our bars and pubs."
He said some residents moved between police and the angry crowd, urging the protesters not to damage the city. He commended police officers for showing "tremendous restraint" and city residents for helping tamping down the unrest.
"I am proud of our residents and our police officers," Batts said. "The vast majority of residents out here did a good job. ... A small number of people felt like they had to turn this into an ugly day."
Batts stressed that the 1,200 officers providing security Saturday had no interest in curbing the right to freedom of expression. His department tweeted: "We are continuing to facilitate everyone's First Amendment rights to protest and be heard. Please remain peaceful."
Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake held a news conference at City Hall late Saturday with Gray's twin sister, Fredericka, and activist pastor Jamal Bryant appealing for calm.
"My family wants to say please, please stop the violence," Fredricka Gray said. "Freddie Gray would not want this."
A video posted by a reporter for The Baltimore Sun showed a man smashing a trash can on the window of a police car. Others climbed on nearby parked cars.
Protesters had promised this would be their biggest march yet after near-daily demonstrations since Gray's death. Police have acknowledged that Gray did not receive medical attention early enough after being taken into custody and that Gray was not buckled into a seat belt when he was transported in a police van after he was arrested April 12.
Gray, 25, died of a mysterious spinal injury that he suffered while in police custody. His lawyer, William Murphy, has said Gray never should have been arrested in the first place.
Deputy Commissioner Kevin Davis, who is leading the police investigation into Gray's death, said three bike officers encountered Gray and another man. Both men ran from police, who chased the pair through a neighborhood on the city's west side for several blocks.
Davis said the officers caught up with Gray, held him down, found a knife in his pocket, handcuffed him and loaded him into the van. Davis said Gray should have received medical attention at that time.
A bystander's video shows Gray being dragged to the van, screaming in pain. Gray asked for medical help several times, beginning before he was placed in the van, police said. After a 30-minute ride that included three stops, paramedics were called. Authorities have not explained how or when Gray's spine was injured.
Malik Shabazz, a leader of Black Lawyers for Justice, has been among those demanding the arrest of six officers involved in the arrest. The officers were suspended with pay, and Davis has said he plans on issuing a report by May 1. The U.S. Justice Department is reviewing the case for any civil rights violations, and Gray's family is conducting their own probe.
Saturday's march attracted people from beyond the Baltimore area. Larry Holmes, 63, came from New York and expressed anger at the mayor and other officials who warned about outsiders agitating violence, The Washington Post reported.
"If I'm an outside agitator, guilty as charged," Holmes said. "We need more outside agitators to reclaim our communities."
Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/1z8BUrS
USA NOW
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Apr 26, 2015
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