Baltimore Protests: 2 Arrested as Maryland Gov. Sends State Troopers
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Baltimore residents and police clashed as people marched downtown to protest the mysterious death of Freddie Gray in police custody. Maryland Governor Larry Hogan said he will send 32 state troopers to the city in order to oversee demonstrations.
No concrete numbers are in, but hundreds of protesters took to the streets of downtown Baltimore, rallying in front of City Hall and the US Courthouse while calling for justice in Gray’s death.
The 25-year-old African-American man died as a result of a severe spinal cord injury, though it’s unclear exactly how or when he was hurt. His funeral is set for Monday.
As demonstrators marched through the streets, they chanted phrases such as, "All night, all day – we’re going to fight for Freddie Gray” and “Hands up, don’t shoot!”
At one point, protesters and police became involved in a scuffle, with reports on the ground saying that some people threw objects at officers.
Two people were arrested for disorderly conduct and destruction of property, police said.
At another point in the protest, demonstrators surrounded a police vehicle and climbed on top of it, according to WNEW News.
Otherwise, the day was largely peaceful. In some instances, people pushed into the streets, interrupting traffic as they spread their message. Some simply chanted "Freddie, Freddie!"while others called for the six officers involved in Gray's death to be indicted.
Gray was detained after making eye contact with police and running away. Officers gave chase and claimed he possessed a knife, but this account is disputed by Gray's family.
Speaking with the Baltimore Sun, Hogan said he had sent 32 state troopers to the city following a request for assistance from the Baltimore Police Department. The troopers reportedly have “expertise” in crowd control.
"There's raw emotions. People legitimately have concerns, and the community is out in force protesting," Hogan told the paper. "I want to thank the folks involved in that. So far it has been peaceful. We want to try to keep things under control. The last thing we need is more violence in Baltimore City."
While state troopers will be present in Baltimore, Hogan said city police will continue to bear most of the responsibility, RT reported.