SI | STOP-Imperialism.com

By Michael Sampson

Baltimore, MD – On the evening of April 21, over 1000 community members in West Baltimore met on the corner of Mount Street and Presbury. The angry crowd marched on the Western District of the Baltimore Police Department. Protesters marched demanding justice for Freddie Gray, an African American man murdered by police.

Gray was forced to the ground and then abused by Baltimore Police on April 12. While being detained, Gray’s voice box was crushed and his spine damaged by police. Gray died of the spinal injury one week later on April 19 after lapsing into a coma.

Protesters chanted, “Tell the truth and stop the lies, Freddie Gray didn’t have to die” as well as “No justice, no peace!”

The family of Freddie Gray called for the action. Other organizations such as the Baltimore Bloc, Baltimore People’s Power Assembly and local African American clergy played a role as well. Protesters demanded that the Baltimore Police stop lying about the accounts of what happened to Gray while he was in police custody. Marchers called for the cops involved in Gray’s brutal arrest and murder to be arrested and charged.

Those killer cops are Lt. Brian Rice, 41, who joined the department in 1997; Officer Caesar Goodson, 45, who joined in 1999; Sgt. Alicia White, 30, who joined in 2010; Officer William Porter, 25, who joined in 2012; Officer Garrett Miller, 26, who joined in 2012; and Officer Edward Nero, 29, who joined in 2012. 

Community members at the protest where outraged by the murder of Gray and promised more action until police terror in Baltimore is brought to an end. 

Eniubong Iniunam expressed the view of many people who live in West Baltimore, “I’m out here to support. There have been so many protests and this one hit real close to home. I saw pictures of the victim. I knew this kid. He’s from here. I can be seriously next”.

Baltimore Bloc, one of the groups leading protests said in a statement, “Baltimore Bloc stands in solidarity with the victims of this week’s police violence and all the victims of the vicious, bloodthirsty gang known as the Baltimore Police Department. We will do everything in our power to bring this killing spree to an end.”

Police detained one of the Baltimore Bloc organizers at the start of the protest, only releasing him when the protest ended.

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