Luke Skywalker
Super Moderator
{vb:raw ozzmodz_postquote}:
Get the news
Log In or Subscribe to skip
204 [h=6]Share This Story![/h]Let friends in your social network know what you are reading about
[h=4]Pastor: 'Someone has to pay' for Freddie Gray's death[/h]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 Saturday night.
{# #}
[h=4]Sent![/h]A link has been sent to your friend's email address.
[h=4]Posted![/h]A link has been posted to your Facebook feed.
[h=6]Join the Nation's Conversation[/h]To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the Conversation Guidelines and FAQs
Demonstrators don police hats taken from a damaged police car April 25, 2015, while protesting the death of Freddie Gray in Baltimore.(Photo: Jim Watson, AFP/Getty Images)
The family of Freddie Gray began formally saying goodbye Sunday with a wake held hours after a largely peaceful protest over his death disintegrated into chaos on Baltimore streets.
The funeral for Gray, a black man who died one week ago of injuries sustained in police custody, will take place Monday.
"He left behind a grief-stricken family, a heart-broken fiancée, and a sorrowful step-daughter-to-be," says a website accepting donations it says will help defray medical and burial costs. "The Gray family appreciates your support."
The police department promised extra security following Saturday's upheaval, tweeting, "Extra officers will be deployed downtown and across Baltimore to ensure everyone's safety during the rest of the weekend and into next week."
Activist Jamal Bryant, pastor of Empowerment Temple AME Church, told his congregation Sunday that "somebody is going to have to pay" for Gray's death, the Associated Press reported.
If "you're black in America, your life is always under threat," Bryant said.
Saturday's rally began as a peaceful protest of more than 1,000 people. Police Commissioner Anthony Batts said he moved through the crowd, promising that his office was "making deep systemic changes in the culture of this organization. The people were very receptive."
Batts, who is black, said Sunday that 34 people were arrested and six officers injured in tense confrontations after the organized protest had essentially wrapped up. He has blamed the violence on "agitators."
[h=2]UP NEXT[/h][h=2]03[/h]
Windows were smashed, police were pelted with bottles, and several protesters 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 Saturday night. "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."
Thousands of fans were temporarily trapped inside the Baltimore Orioles baseball stadium Saturday night as "ongoing public safety issues" prevented fans from leaving the ballpark, the team said. An all-clear announcement was made before the game ended.
Batts emphasized 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."
USA TODAY
Orioles beat Red Sox in 11 as protests rage outside
USA TODAY
Baltimore police: Still no answers in custody death
Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake held a news conference at City Hall late Saturday with Gray's twin sister, Fredricka, and Bryant appealing for calm.
"My family wants to say please, please stop the violence," Fredricka Gray said. "Freddie Gray would not want this."
Protesters had promised that it 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 he 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 cord injury that he suffered while in police custody. His lawyer, William Murphy, has said Gray never should have been arrested in the first place.
We have made approximately 12 arrests this evening. We continue to deploy resources to keep everyone safe.
— Baltimore Police (@BaltimorePolice) April 26, 2015
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 them 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 has acknowledged that 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 to issue 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 its own investigation.
Saturday's march attracted people from beyond the Baltimore area. Larry Holmes, 63, was there from New York. He 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."
Contributing: Yamiche Alcindor
0) { %> 0) { %>
0) { %>
Powered By WizardRSS.com | Full Text RSS Feed