Tag Archives: police officers

Thousands march in support of Freddie Gray in Baltimore

BALTIMORE — Thousands of protesters – led by students – marched Wednesday from Baltimore City Hall to Penn train station calling for justice for Freddie Gary, who died from a severe spine injury while in police custody. The rally took place peacefully two days before the Baltimore County state’s attorney ruled Gray’s death a homicide and filed charges against six police officers involved in his detention. Continue reading

Frederick volunteers serve police officials and servicemen amidst Baltimore turmoil

VIDEO AND TEXT BY JANEL FORTE FOR THE MEDILL NATIONAL SECURITY JOURNALISM INITIATIVE

Canteen serves police officials and servicemen amidst Baltimore turmoil from Medill Washington on Vimeo.

Larry Wenschhof and Canteen 1 from the Independent Hose Company of Frederick are at the M&T Stadium where servicemen and police officials camp out between shifts. With food donations made by surrounding counties, they are making sure the men and women dispatched to help Baltimore during the state of emergency remain hydrated and well-nourished.


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The clearing of Penn and North

A police helicopter circles protesters as the 10 p.m. curfew approaches.

A police helicopter circles protesters as the 10 p.m. curfew approaches.

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A young boy tunes out the clamor of the protesters.

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Baltimore police hold the line as civic activists clear the ground before them.

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A local resident urges protesters to obey the 10 p.m. curfew from the roof of a Metro stop.

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Local activists form a human chain to drive protesters and media away from the police.

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10:15 pm: A lone protester stares down the police as tear gas is fired to clear the intersection.

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A protester is detained after fireworks were lobbed at police.

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10:25 p.m.: Police backed by an armored vehicle push forward into the intersection.

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Baltimore policeman scans the intersection with teargas launcher at the ready.

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Police fire pepper balls at protesters who approach the line.

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10:40 p.m.: Police continue firing tear gas into the intersection to disperse remaining protesters.

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10:50 p.m.: Police oversee the successfully cleared intersection.

Maryland Army National Guard PAO explains how Baltimore troops are trained to deal with press

Captain Cody Starken of the Maryland Army National Guard stands near the front entrance of the Maryland National Guard Center in Adelphi, Maryland, on April 30, 2015. (Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory/MEDILL NSJI)

Captain Cody Starken of the Maryland Army National Guard stands near the front entrance of the Maryland National Guard Center in Adelphi, Maryland, on April 30, 2015. (Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory/MEDILL NSJI)

ADELPHI, Md. — Cpt. Cody Starken, a public affairs officer with the Maryland Army National Guard, explained how ground troops who are currently state-activated to work with Joint Task Force Maryland in response to the Baltimore protests are advised to deal with the press during a Thursday interview at the Maryland National Guard Center in Adelphi, Maryland.

Listen to his insights here:

Photos: Baltimore City Hall becomes protest-free press parade as curfew arrives

  • Maryland Army National Guard soldiers stand in front of Baltimore City Hall on April 30, 2015. (Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory/MEDILL NSJI)
    Maryland Army National Guard soldiers stand in front of Baltimore City Hall on April 30, 2015. (Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory/MEDILL NSJI)

BALTIMORE — Despite playing host to a major demonstration earlier in the day, Baltimore City Hall became a press-addled ghost town as the citywide 10 p.m. curfew approached on April 30, 2015.  Check out the photo gallery above to get a glimpse of the situation on the ground there on Thursday night.

Protesters defy curfew in Baltimore

Tensions high on first night of Baltimore curfew from Medill Washington on Vimeo.

Tensions flared as some residents of Baltimore’s Penn North neighborhood begged others to go home before the 10 p.m. curfew took effect.

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake begged protesters to be home in time for the curfew.

“We cannot make any major changes that need to be made tonight,” she said over loudspeaker to the crowd.

But the crowd did not leave. Police pushed forward to force the crowd from the intersection, and some protesters responded by throwing bottles. Police fired back with tear gas, pepper spray projectiles and and smoke grenades.

Crowds eventually dispersed as police cleared the streets.


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Protesters, police square off in Baltimore, but riots averted

BALTIMORE, Md. — Protesters clashed with police on the city’s west side Tuesday night as anger over the death of 25-year-old black man Freddie Gray while in police custody again boiled into violence.

Though the unrest stopped well short of the rioting and arson that swept through some sections of the city on Monday, the situation remained tense as authorities sought to clear the streets and enforce the 10 p.m. – 5 a.m. curfew.

For most of the day, demonstrators had massed in front of a police barricade near the intersection of Pennsylvania and West North avenues, where crowds had looted and torched a CVS drugstore the day before. The protests were peaceful and even took on a festive character as demonstrators of all ages played drums and danced in an impromptu parade.

Demonstrators protesting the death of Baltimore resident Freddie Gray occupied the intersection of Pennsylvania and West North avenues Tuesday night. Photo by Matthew Schehl.

Demonstrators protesting the death of Baltimore resident Freddie Gray occupied the intersection of Pennsylvania and West North avenues Tuesday night. Photo by Matthew Schehl.

By nightfall however, the crowd near the barricade at Pennsylvania Avenue had thickened. But many on the scene vocally denounced violence and provocation. Pastors, church groups and representatives from the Nation of Islam pleaded with the crowd to remain peaceful.

A group of area residents even attempted to clear the intersection by forming a human chain between protesters and police in riot gear.

“It’s a tragedy to see the community being destroyed,” said David Morrison, one of those who helped link up the human chain.

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake addressed the crowd multiple times via loudspeaker. As the 10 p.m. curfew neared, Rawlings-Blake implored protesters to return to their homes.

And while many heeded that call, others seemed emboldened by it.

A number of young men climbed atop the Penn/North Metro stop elevator holding signs and chanting “We don’t get tired.” Others wearing gas masks and bandanas rushed forward and gave the middle finger to police.

Shortly after 10, the police advanced to clear people from the intersection, prompting several protesters to throw bottles —some of them glass— at the police. In return, police set off smoke grenades and tear gas and were seen shooting pepper-spray projectiles. The crowd dispersed as police gradually moved through the intersection and also cleared side streets.

Police later dispatched vans, Humvees and helicopters to enforce the week-long curfew.

The late-night standoff was a departure from the scenes of calm and cooperation across Baltimore earlier Tuesday.

Baltimore police in full riot gear prepare to clear the intersection of Pennsylvania and West North avenues as the curfew approaches. Photo by Matthew Schehl.

Baltimore police in full riot gear prepare to clear the intersection of Pennsylvania and West North avenues as the curfew approaches. Photo by Matthew Schehl.

Hundreds of Maryland National Guardsmen arrived to keep the peace in the city’s downtown and Inner Harbor neighborhoods. Soldiers carrying gas masks and assault rifles patrolled the quiet waterfront, where most businesses were closed early.

Crisis was also averted in the city’s northwestern suburbs. Rumors suggested that teenagers planned to target the Security Square Mall in Windsor Mill, Md., in a “purge,” apparently a reference to a 2013 dystopian film of the same name in which all crime is made legal for 24 hours.

Among those seeking to defuse the tension at the shopping center were self-described gang members who said they did not want to see their city suffer.

Gang member and rapper Orlando “Magik” Gilyard voiced his frustration with area youth, who he said had taken advantage of Gray’s death.

“I’d rather see us —BGF (Black Guerrilla Family), Bloods, Crips, blacks, whites— stop these kids from making the wrong decisions,” Gilyard said.

Gilyard and a number of his friends turned away one group of high schoolers who approached the shopping area.

“Stealing a pair of shoes, that’s not worth dying for,” said Christopher Johnson, another self-identified gang member. “This is not a movie, this is real life.”

 


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