US Protesters Plan to ‘Shut Down’ Baltimore
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Protesters angry over the unexplained death of an African-American man in police custody plan to “shut down” the US city of Baltimore, Maryland, on Saturday.
This came after one week of protests over the death of Freddie Gray, 25-year-old victim, who died due to a mysterious spinal injury after being in a hospital for a week.
Officers from the Baltimore Police Department arrested Gray on April 12 after he made eye contact with officers. He ran away but officers held him down, put handcuffs and leg cuffs on him and took him in a van.
Gray was not buckled with a seat belt and during his 30-mimute ride, he repeatedly asked for medical help until paramedics were called for help. His spine was broken either during his arrest or inside the police van, Press TV reported.
Protests broke out with demonstrators demanding justice for Gray. On Wednesday, the protesters in Baltimore started their rally from the street where Gray was arrested toward the city's police department.
Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake thanked protesters for being peaceful so far. "I will not deny we have had a very long and complicated history on issues such as these," Rawlings-Blake said. "But it's important to remember that we have an equally long history of peaceful and legal protest."
“I still want to know why none of the officers called for immediate medical assistance despite Mr. Gray’s apparent pleas,” the mayor said.
On Friday, the Rev. Alvin Gwynn Sr., president of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Baltimore said that apparently “no one in the police department can explain what happened”.
On Wednesday, the demonstrators chanted slogans against racial discrimination and police brutality in the United States, with some shouting, “Hands up, don’t shoot”.
The killing of several unarmed black men by white police officers in recent months and decisions by grand juries not to indict the officers triggered large-scale protests across the US.
