Yetunde Daniel
Baltimore, a city in Maryland, United States, has declared a state of emergency amid violent protests linked to the death of a black man fatally injured in police custody. A weeklong curfew has been announced and as many as 5,000 National Guard troops could be deployed, according to state officials.
Freddie Gray, An African American man, 25, died on April 19 after a week in a coma. The justice department is investigating exactly where and when his spinal injuries were sustained. The protests began with several violent clashes on Monday hours after Gray’s funeral. After dark, a community building that was under construction was engulfed in flames.
Earlier, dozens of people were seen confronting police, and 15 officers were injured. Officials have suspended six police officers that were involved in the case.
Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said it was very clear there was a difference between the “peaceful protests of those who seek justice” and the “thugs who want to incite violence”.
Authorities were “deploying every resource possible to regain control of the situation”, she said.
Later, following violence, looting and fires in various spots across the city of more than 620,000 people, she said: “This destruction we’ve seen this evening is heart-breaking.”
Freddie Gray, An African American man, 25, died on April 19 after a week in a coma. The justice department is investigating exactly where and when his spinal injuries were sustained. The protests began with several violent clashes on Monday hours after Gray’s funeral. After dark, a community building that was under construction was engulfed in flames.
Earlier, dozens of people were seen confronting police, and 15 officers were injured. Officials have suspended six police officers that were involved in the case.
Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said it was very clear there was a difference between the “peaceful protests of those who seek justice” and the “thugs who want to incite violence”.
Authorities were “deploying every resource possible to regain control of the situation”, she said.
Later, following violence, looting and fires in various spots across the city of more than 620,000 people, she said: “This destruction we’ve seen this evening is heart-breaking.”
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