BALTIMORE—After two weeks of tension over the death of Freddie Gray, Baltimore devolved into chaos on Monday.
Roaming gangs clashed with police in the streets, seriously wounding officers, tearing open businesses and looting their stocks.
Gov. Larry Hogan declared a state of emergency and called up the National Guard, and state police requested as many as 5,000 reinforcements from neighboring states.
Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake instituted a weeklong citywide curfew for all residents from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., starting on Tuesday, as rioters damaged neighborhood after neighborhood into on Monday night.
Rawlings-Blake called those involved “thugs who only want to incite violence and destroy our city,” joining a chorus of other officials and residents—some of whom fought off rioters to defend their homes and businesses. “Too many people have spent generations building up this city for it to be destroyed by thugs who, in a very senseless way, are trying to tear down what so many have fought for, tearing down businesses, tearing down or destroying property,” Rawlings-Blake said. “It’s idiotic to think that by destroying your city, you’re going to make life better for anybody.”
William M. Pallozzi, superintendent of the state police, said 1,500 police were in Baltimore on Monday night. In addition to police from out of state, as many as 5,000 National Guard soldiers could be deployed. Ministers also took to the streets in an effort to quell the violence, trying to intervene and praying for peace.
The events stood in stark contrast to earlier, more peaceful protests in the city following the in-custody death last week of Gray. The 25-year-old Baltimore resident died from spinal cord and other injuries sustained while in police custody. The case is still under investigation, and circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear.
The violence began hours after Gray’s funeral, despite standing pleas from his family for peaceful protests and a suspension of demonstrations Monday in deference to mourners.
“This is not what my family asked for. This is not justice. This is just people finding a way to steal stuff,” said Carron Morgan, an 18-year-old cousin of Gray. He attended earlier protests, often intervening in tense situations between police and protesters. Morgan said Gray’s family and neighbors were not rioting. Instead, he said, “we’re going to be out tomorrow cleaning up, for sure.”
The riots spread fear through parts of the city, forcing cancellation of the Baltimore Orioles’ scheduled home game and prompting the closure of city public schools on Tuesday. Late on Monday, a massive fire involving a building under construction erupted in East Baltimore, which neighbors believe was linked to the violence. Terrance Taylor, 17, said he was “devastated” by the destruction.
“We are trying to build up this community,” he said, noting the neighborhood is already full of vacant buildings. “It’s a waste of millions of dollars. I don’t see how this is making a statement at all.”
The Fire Department had not been able to determine the cause of the blaze.
President Barack Obama called Rawlings-Blake and Hogan about efforts to restore peace, while newly sworn-in Attorney General Loretta Lynch condemned the “senseless acts of violence” for causing “a shattering of the peace in the city of Baltimore.” The violence began around 3 p.m. at Mondawmin Mall as schools let out, with rock-throwing kids confronting shield-carrying police officers. Things rapidly deteriorated as police retreated to a perimeter position, vehicles and buildings were burned and openly defiant crowds began smashing into and looting local businesses.
Some casually loaded vehicles full of merchandise from neighborhood stores as police responded to hot spots in other areas. At least 15 police officers were injured—two hospitalized—in violent clashes, with one police spokesman calling those responsible “outrageous criminals.”
Baltimore Sun/TNS
Image credits: Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun/TNS