Baltimore protests erupt over police killing of Freddie Grey

City Hall rally on April 20 assails fatal beating.
WW photo: Sharon Black

Baltimore — Protests over the police killing of 25-year-old Freddie Carlos Grey erupted over the April 18-19 weekend after the announcement of the young African-American man’s death on April 19. Grey was brutally and callously dragged to a police wagon after being thrown to the ground because he could not walk. Eventually taken to the hospital, he was put on life support after suffering three broken vertebrae and a severed spinal cord on April 12.

Hundreds of people from West Baltimore went into the streets both days to protest in front of the Western District police station. At the request of Grey’s family, the People’s Power Assembly and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference staged a downtown protest and rally in front of City Hall on April 20 at 9 a.m. The protesters then marched to police headquarters where police blocked the entrance to the station.

This brutal case has garnered national press coverage. The PPA, SCLC and the community have called for a planning meeting to discuss next steps on April 22 at 7 p.m. at the Baltimore Solidarity Center, 2011 N. Charles St.  Protests are continuing every night at the Western District station. For more information, call 443-221-3775.