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The death of a man in Baltimore who was in police custody has sparked a series of protests, violence and calls for change to the Baltimore Police Department.
25-year-old Freddie Gray was arrested April 12 and taken into police custody, where he suffered a spinal cord injury. He fell into a coma and died seven days later.
Gray’s death has caused unrest and anger on the streets of Baltimore, where thousands of people have gathered to protest what they say is an ongoing pattern of police violence.
2,200 people gathered at Gray’s funeral on Monday. Bill Murphy, the Gray family’s lawyer, spoke at the funeral about the importance of investigating allegations of police brutality.
“If there was a theme, it was that this is a moment that Baltimore leaders need to seize to introduce some real reform,” NewsHour correspondent Jackie Judd, who attended the funeral, said.
The community is calling for changes to the ways police interact with citizens, particularly black men.
“Freddie’s death is not in vain. After this day, we’re going to keep on marching. After this day, we’re going to keep demanding justice. After this day, we’re going to keep exposing our culture of corruption,” Reverend Jamal Bryant said.
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan declared a state of emergency and called on the National Guard to police the city after protesters threw rocks and damaged local businesses. Baltimore police are conducting an internal investigation into Gray’s death and have suspended six officers.
Warm up questions
- Who was Freddie Gray?
- What is the job of police?
Critical thinking questions
- Why is this incident significant? How does it compare to similar incidents and protests that have taken place in the past year?
- Going forward, how can Baltimore address Gray’s death and the anger of its citizens? What changes should the city make?
- Do you think that the protests will lead to reform? Why or why not?
