Baltimore mayor lifts curfew 6 days after riots
Updated: 2015-05-04 11:25
(Agencies)
|
|||||||||
BALTIMORE - Baltimore's mayor lifted a citywide curfew Sunday, six days after riots sparked by Freddie Gray's death, and faith leaders called for continued activism until justice is achieved.
A jubilant crowd of several hundred prayed and sang civil-rights anthems at a City Hall rally. Sunday's peaceful gathering came two days after the city's top prosecutor announced criminal charges against six officers involved in Gray's arrest. His death came amid a national debate about the deaths of black men at the hands of police.
Speaker after speaker exhorted the crowd not to rest just because the officers have been charged. The Rev. Jamal Bryant, a fiery leader of the protests that followed Gray's April 12 arrest and the death of the 25-year-old black man a week later, drew deafening cheers when he said the officers deserve jail time.
"We've got to see this all the way through, until all six officers trade in their blue uniform for an orange uniform,'' Bryant said. "Let them know: Orange is the new black.''
The Rev. Lisa Weah, pastor of the New Bethlehem Baptist Church in Gray's neighborhood, said the message of equal justice for all must not be lost.
"Our prayer is that Baltimore will be the model for the rest of the nation,'' she said.
Police said Sunday that 486 people had been arrested since April 23, and that 113 officers had been injured at riots and protests. The extent of the officers' injuries was unclear. Earlier in the week, police had said that out of nearly 100 injured officers, 13 were hurt to the extent that they couldn't work, and 15 were on desk duty.
The order for residents to stay home between 10 pm and 5 am had been in place since Tuesday; officials had originally planned to maintain it through Monday morning. Protests since last Monday's riots have been peaceful, and Friday's announcement of charges eased tensions.
Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake announced the curfew's end in a statement.
"My number one priority in instituting a curfew was to ensure the public peace, safety, health and welfare of Baltimore citizens,'' the Democratic mayor said. "It was not an easy decision, but one I felt was necessary to help our city restore calm.''
- Freddie Gray was trying to hurt himself in Baltimore police van
- Marchers protest police violence in Baltimore, New York
- Chinese student witness to Baltimore riot
- Riot-hit Baltimore, an American city divided by income and opportunity
- Police descend on Baltimore to enforce curfew after riots
- Obama says no excuse for Baltimore violence
- Baltimore erupts in riots after funeral of man who died in police custody
- Riot, looting prompt state of emergency, curfew in Baltimore
- Wake held in Baltimore for black man who died after arrest
- Historical photos of 56 nations in China (Part I)
- World No.1 Ma wins first men's singles world championship
- Ten photos you don't wanna miss during May Day holiday
- The world in photos: April 27 - May 3
- Fans dressed up to celebrate 'Star Wars Day' in Budapest
- China pavilion opens at Expo Milano 2015
- New exhibition by Fondazione Prada offers new perspective on originality and imitation
- Mayweather beats Pacquiao by unanimous decision
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
What do we know about AIIB |
Full coverage of Boao Forum for Asia |
Annual legislative and political advisory sessions |
Spring Festival trends reflect a changing China |
Patent applications lead the world |
BC lures Chinese tourists |
Today's Top News
China becomes top source of US immigrants
Birthing center witnesses charged with violating court orders
LA protesters confront Abe face to face
Baltimore mayor lifts curfew 6 days after riots
More speculation in China's market as it's new
Consul general praises Beijing university to alumni
Manufacturing hub starts work on first zero-labor factory
New York City police officer shot in head while conducting patrol
US Weekly
Geared to go |
The place to be |