Clashes with police in Baltimore after Freddie Gray funeral.
Written by: B.duQuesnay
Date: Apr 28 2015
The unjust killing of black males on the streets of North America has
become a that has reached epic proportions and the latest public outcry
for justice has come from the killing of Freddie Gray. Fredrick Gray was
the victim of increasing police violence that has been illegally
targeting and arresting minorities. Freddie Gray was said to have made
eye contact with police that lead police to pursue Freddie Gray on April
12th, 2015 though no crime was committed. The victim later died on
April 19th, 2015 due to his injuries directly stemming from his arrest.
The Freddie Gray police killing, has been condemned as yet another unjust killing of an unarmed
Black man at the hands of police. The victim had been arrested for the
possession of a switchblade but did not have possesion of the weapon
during the time of his assault and during his murder at the hands of
police. The victim had initially requested medical attention and access
to an inhaler for his breathing, which can be both seen and heard in a
online video showing police officers forcefully subduing the victim by
kneeling on the victims chest and neck.
As the police transported the victim, several stops were police further
assaulted the victim and can be seen dragging the victim's limp body
into the back of the police vehicle while onlookers express their
discontent with the actions of the police and how they treated the
injured victim.
The police position on the victims death is that the police had not
taken the victim to the hospital in a timely fashion and had not buckled
the victim into the vehicle. Though, this explanation does not point
any direct wrong doing by police, nor does it explain how the young
man's neck and spine had been severed to some 80%, even though police
claim that they used the vehicle to shake up the prisoners in the
vehicle with a 'rough ride' and may have injured the victim. This still
could not account for a severed spine.
The growing outrage in the Black community brought forth a week of
peaceful protests as the community in Baltimore attempts to deal with
this latest tragedy amongst the unlawful actions of the Baltimore police
department. It has been reported that six police were suspended with
pay for their misdeeds.
The funeral on April 27th, 2015 has drawn many US government officials
and supporters such as the Eric Garner family. It was said that the
presence of police as well as outside agitators sparked conflict between
the supporters at Freddie Gray's funeral and the Baltimore police. Some
35 people and
As the latest victim of a long line of countless police criminal actions
against Blacks and minorities has raised tensions in the black
community. Though, a week of peaceful protests gave voice to the
distrust of police in the Black community the police once again used
their presence to fuel furthering tensions while outside agitators
provoke a police response and incite violence. This has led the US to
once again introduce the National Guard to oppose retaliation and
discourse from the community.
The Freddie Gray case is very telling of the police state that has been
heavily weighing down on the Black community since it's conception in
the US. Unfair and biased policing is the obvious culprit in the ongoing
strings of the police murders that have a long history in North America
and yet still continues today. The final autopsy is said to take 30 to
45 days to complete and before the public will be given any definite
forensic answers to the police killing of Freddie Gray.
References/Sources:
Baltimore Sun - The 45-minute mystery of Freddie Gray's death
CNN - Police: We failed to get Freddie Gray timely medical care after arrest
Al Jazeera - Thousands protest over US custody death of Freddie Gray