Americans protest killing of black man by Baltimore police

Thousands of people have again taken to the streets of the US city of Baltimore to protest the brutal death of a 25-year-old unarmed African-American man at the hands of white police officers.

The protesters marched on Saturday through one of this city’s most downtrodden neighborhoods to the district police station where Freddie Gray arrived with a broken spine after he was tortured by arresting police nearly two weeks ago.  He died of the spinal injury he sustained during his April 12 arrest.

The demonstrators were carrying placards bearing the message “Black Lives Matter” and “Justice 4 Freddie Gray”.

They also chanted slogans against racial discrimination and police brutality in the United States, with many shouting “No Justice No Peace,” which has become a centerpiece of the persisting protests over the past six days.

Speakers urged the protesters to close down Baltimore, and they responded by chanting “Shut it down, shut it down.”

Malik Shabazz, an attorney and president of Black Lawyers for Justice, told the crowd, "We've got to shut this city down. ... We don't fear no police today."

“The voice of pain and suffering in Baltimore will be heard today,” Shabazz said earlier in the day. “The focus will be on Freddie Gray and how his back and spine were broken, and how the cover-up must end today.”

“Police have a tradition to dehumanize, to beat down and to show people who’s in charge,” Rev. Graylan Hagler, pastor of Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ in Northeast Washington, said during his speech to the crowd.

“It’s the blue uniform. Stand up and stop police from disrespecting our community. Freddie Gray is one of many,” he added.

The incident, which was captured by an eyewitness on his cell phone, shows an injured Gray being dragged into a van by police officers.

The killing was just one of a succession of fatal police brutalities in recent months.

In recent months, large-scale protests were held across the US after a series of high-profile incidents of white police officers killing unarmed African-American men, including Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri; Eric Garner in Staten Island, New York and Walter Scott in North Charleston, South Carolina. 

GJH/GJH

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