That environment is likely to be volatile, considering the long-simmering issues over the issue of excessive use of force by police in Baltimore and the upcoming trials of the officers charged in connection with the fatal injury of Freddie Gray in police custody in April. More than a dozen others outside City Hall looked on at the police activity, chanting, “It is our duty to fight for our freedom, we have nothing to lose but our chains!”
Advertisement
Rawlings-Blake fired former police commissioner Anthony Batts and replaced him with Davis in July as violent crime and murders rose steeply in the city, just three months after Gray’s death triggered widespread protests and riots, providing further fuel to the nationwide protests calling for an end to police brutality. The full City Council could vote on Davis’ appointment as early as Monday.
As dawn approached, at least 25 police officers arrived at City Hall to get the remaining protesters to leave. A few followed police orders to leave but about 12 refused and were arrested and charged with trespassing, Baltimore police said.
Witnesses said one high school student yelled her mother’s phone number before she was taken away from City Hall in a police vehicle.
Tawanda Jones, whose brother Tyrone West died after a confrontation with Baltimore police following a traffic stop in 2013, is among the protesters, holding a sign that reads: “Jail for Killer Cops”.
She said Thursday she was confused about the goal of the demonstration.
Protesters shout as council members leave the chamber at city hall… “He didn’t take us seriously”, Kevin Wellons, 19, who left the sit-in before arrests were made, told AP. Secondly, he said, they plan to continue to advance the agenda they introduced last night.
Activist Lawrence Grandpre, who was among those who left City Hall before arrests began, questioned why police had chosen to allow the protest to proceed all evening, then shut it down in the small hours of the morning.
Lawrence Grand Pre, a protester who heeded police warnings and left, said those remaining were “young people being young people, and talking a lot about social justice”. In the interest of constitutional rights, the protesters said, they also want officers to always wear badges and name tags. “All [Davis] had to do was come upstairs for ten minutes”.
Three council members voted for him, one abstained, and one-Nick Mosby, the husband of State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby-voted against the appointment. All we wanted was for the commissioner to meet the people he’s attacking.
A City Council subcommittee voted to make Davis the permanent police commissioner.
Addressing the council committee Wednesday, Davis said that he remains committed to training officers to actively engage and interact with community members. The city’s Board of Estimates must also approve Davis’ contract.
Advertisement
This report contains material from The Associated Press.
