In a press conference following the Freddie Gray riots that rocked Baltimore, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake famously explained to reporters that “we provided spaces for protesters to destroy if they chose to do that.”
In a follow-up interview, Rawlings-Blake clarified that she and the police tried not to escalate the riots, with Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony Batts writing in an email, “In short, because this was a protest against the Baltimore Police Department, we couldn’t be seen as the aggressors or instigators, as such we needed to give them space. Going forward we will tighten up the reins on the marches to ensure everyone’s safety.”
Batts was fired, and the permanent hiring of his replacement, Kevin Davis, was met with protests and an overnight occupation of City Hall by demonstrators who insisted on a meeting with him to present a list of 19 demands, including “larger and more disruptive spaces than would normally be tolerated” for protests.
That’s how the stage has been set for tonight’s protests following the proclamation of a mistrial in the case of William Porter, the first of six police officers to be tried in connection with the death of Freddie Gray. Activist groups like Baltimore BLOC had prepared in advance for a not guilty verdict, but news of a mistrial was good enough reason to take over the streets.
Group chanting: "no justice no peace, jail killer police" @ABC2NEWS pic.twitter.com/XImFCRkXt5
— Amy Aubert (@ABC7AmyAubert) December 16, 2015
This ain't about Freddie Gray's record. It's about his crude death at the hands of police. If you don't understand that, you ain't woke.
— Jawn Solo | Prof. of Praise, Dept. of Joy (@RandiGloss) December 16, 2015
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Police form lines at intersections to funnel marchers in certain directions. This is Fayette at President. pic.twitter.com/qPBN3Hx6og
— Pamela Wood☀️ (@pwoodreporter) December 16, 2015
Baltimore at President. Drivers honking. Traffic stopped. pic.twitter.com/kn4IuHXX1X
— Pamela Wood☀️ (@pwoodreporter) December 16, 2015
Marchers on The Block. "Whose streets? Our streets!" pic.twitter.com/drhFFtR5Lr
— Pamela Wood☀️ (@pwoodreporter) December 16, 2015
Protesters interrupting broadcasts: "No live feeds tonight."
— Sarah Meehan (@sarahvmeehan) December 16, 2015
"All you out of state media are not allowed here," one man says pic.twitter.com/4WGXsdm08N
— Sarah Meehan (@sarahvmeehan) December 16, 2015
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About 20 protesters are chanting outside juvenile justice center, a few police are across the street pic.twitter.com/uTMNUsWeRk
— Sarah Meehan (@sarahvmeehan) December 17, 2015
Protestors in front of Juvenile Justice Center chanting "I got a target on my body somebody please protect me" @FreshcutMo
— brandon soderberg (@notrivia) December 17, 2015
Kevin Davis: "Protesters who are lawfully assembled have a friend in the Baltimore Police Department." https://t.co/UpDqTn4sG0
— The Baltimore Sun (@baltimoresun) December 17, 2015
.@CommishKDavis, my friends don't try to kill me. https://t.co/NA0n4Brnff
— deray (@deray) December 17, 2015
Protesters moved on from City Hall, now quiet. Barricades & police officers still outside #PorterTrial @cbsbaltimore pic.twitter.com/MssaHpsizd
— Rick Ritter (@RickRitterWJZ) December 17, 2015
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