Is Baltimore the New Ferguson? 15 Officers Injured, One Died, Stores Looted, and Fires Set as Violent Riots Continue

Baltimore, MD — It’s happening again, but this time it’s not in Ferguson, Missouri. It’s in Baltimore, Maryland.

Rioters have been throwing rocks at police, destroying patrol cars, and looting/burning stores as part of violent demonstrations protesting over the death of Freddie Gray, an African American man who died recently while in police custody. His death remains a mystery, but it is known that he was placed into a squad car with no seatbelt and the African American community suspects that he was purposedly killed or allowed to die.

Protesting starting out peacefully, but became extremely violent on the morning of Gray’s funeral. The Baltimore County Police says that 15 officers have been injured, two have been hospitalized, and one has died (according to one source). Maryland Governor, Larry Hogan, has already declared a state of emergency in the city and has activated the National Guard to assist city and state police. He said it was a “last resort”, and up to 5,000 law enforcement officials will be requested to help.

Attorney General Loretta Lynch, who was just recently sworn in by President Obama, said, “Those who commit violent actions, ostensibly in protest of the death of Freddie Gray, do a disservice to his family, to his loved ones, and to legitimate peaceful protesters who are working to improve their community for all its residents.”

As a safety precaution, Baltimore City Public Schools will be closed on Tuesday, April 27th, and the Baltimore Orioles have postponed their home game against the Chicago White Sox on Monday.

Rep. Elijah Cummings decried the violence to WJZ’s Derek Valcourt outside City Hall. He commented, “We’re better than this, and I know that people are upset, but this is not the way to go about change. When we see policemen being hit, stores being broken into and burned, that’s not who we are. I’m asking people to refrain from that. This is our city. After all the cameras are gone, we still have to live here.”