More than 60 arrested as hundreds in NYC, DC rally for Baltimore’s Freddie Gray
New York City police arrested more than 60 people Wednesday as protesters marched in solidarity with those in Baltimore, where demonstrations and riots were sparked by Freddie Gray’s death in police custody.
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The arrests come after hundreds of people gathered in New York's Union Square to rally against Gray's death and in support of those in Baltimore. The NYPD had warned participants that marching into the streets or blocking sidewalks could result in arrests.
NYPD is arresting people on the streets. #ShutItDown#FreddieGraypic.twitter.com/PunMRMDwtx
— marina portnaya (@portnayanyc) April 29, 2015
More than 60 people were arrested throughout the night, an NYPD spokesperson told Reuters. Police are charging many of the protesters with disorderly conduct, according to CNN.
Scuffle between front line of #nypd and protestors north of #UnionSquarepic.twitter.com/t5m6N1zAcD
— lorenzo ferrigno (@lorenzoferrigno) April 29, 2015
Still more being loaded into police vans here on 17th near Union Square, NYC #BlackLivesMatter#FreddieGraypic.twitter.com/Fki34kUTPb
— Brian Ries (@moneyries) April 29, 2015
At various points of the evening, protesters made their way to locations such as Times Square, where arrests were also made, and the Holland Tunnel, where traffic was disrupted.
The event was organized by the Millions March coalition, which asked participants who support “social, economic, and racial justice” to head down to Union Square to “stand in solidarity with them and with their resistance because their resistance is for justice and their justice is our justice.”
Union Square crowd chanting "#FreddieGray#MikeBrown shut the whole system down" pic.twitter.com/yxPyh9Mdah
— marina portnaya (@portnayanyc) April 29, 2015
“People of Baltimore have taken to the streets day after day for justice for Freddie Gray and for Black lives across the country but now that the National Guard has been called in and a curfew set, we must stand in solidarity with the people of Baltimore,” the group wrote on the Facebook page for Wednesday’s event.
“The media will continue to paint the people of Baltimore as rioters and looters but people forget that the City and Police of Baltimore loot and destroy Black and Brown communities of Baltimore every day of the year.”
Speakers address the crowd gathered in Union Square. Chants of 'Hands up. Don't shoot.' pic.twitter.com/UWXiT1EtXx
— Joe Torres (@joetorresABC7) April 29, 2015
Hundreds of protesters showed up to Union Square to begin the rally.
A HUGE crowd gathering for #BaltimoreUprising solidarity march in #NYC#FreddieGray#BlackLivesMatterpic.twitter.com/eSvegkhXDu
— JamesFromTheInternet (@JamesFTInternet) April 29, 2015
Prior to the rally's commencement, police used loudspeakers and distributed flyers warning demonstrators that they could be arrested if they walk in the streets or block the sidewalks.
THOUSANDS gathered at Union Square for #BaltimoreUprising solidarity march in #NYChttps://t.co/UpIx6N3zeD
— JamesFromTheInternet (@JamesFTInternet) April 29, 2015
In Washington, DC, the National Black United Front scheduled its own rally in support of Gray and “all those that have been killed by at the hands of police terrorism.”
Speaking with the Washington Post, one local activist described the motivation behind the event.
“We wanted to come out and show our solidarity with folks who are protesting for Freddie Gray in Baltimore and continue to bring national attention to this, and not allow for this, like any incident, to be treated as isolated to one city,” said Eugene Puryear.
In Washington, DC tonight, a rally for #FreddieGray and so many more. pic.twitter.com/td5ulVstck
— Andrew Blake (@apblake) April 30, 2015
Several hundred people turned out, where protesters were set to march to the White House.
Washington DC Marchers Rally In Support Of #FreddieGray#DCFerguson@laci_barrowpic.twitter.com/M2Jce2KDMS
— Lnonblonde (@Lnonblonde) April 29, 2015
Gray was a 25-year-old American who died in police custody as a result of a severe spinal cord injury. It’s unclear how Gray sustained the injuries, though police have said that timely medical care was not given and that the young man was not secured by a seatbelt when placed in the back of a police wagon.
Federal and local investigations are ongoing, but protesters have taken over Baltimore streets nightly for the past week or so. The majority of the rallies were peaceful, but rioting and looting on Monday pushed the mayor to implement a weeklong curfew and for the Maryland governor to declare a state of emergency.
Hundreds are rallying right now in downtown DC to demand justice for #FreddieGray#DCFerguson#BaltimoreUprisingpic.twitter.com/KPdMlih2uY
— Abby Martin (@AbbyMartin) April 29, 2015
