US police arrest 150 Freddie Gray protesters
At least 150 people have been arrested in the latest demonstrations across the United States over the death of an African-American man in police custody in Baltimore.
On Wednesday, thousands of Americans took to the streets to protest the killing of 25-year-old Freddie Gray, who died of severe spinal injuries on April 19, a week after he was arrested and detained by Baltimore police.
Police arrested more than 120 people in New York City and at least 30 more were arrested in other cities across the United States, including Washington, Denver, and Boston.
In New York City, the demonstrators were carrying placards bearing the message “Black Lives Matter”, “Justice 4 Freddie Gray” and "End Police Brutality Now".
The protesters were also chanting 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 several days.
New York police arresting a demonstrator during a protest march in New York City, April 29, 2015 (AFP photo)
Police have said Gray was arrested after he made eye contact with officers and ran away. Officers pushed Gray to the ground, handcuffed him and placed him into a police van.
The tragic incident, which was captured by a bystander on his cell phone, shows an injured Gray being dragged into a van by police officers.
Gray’s death in police custody has again sparked civil unrest in the country that was first triggered by the deaths of several black men over the past year at the hands of police in New York City, Ferguson, Cleveland, and elsewhere.
On Monday, Maryland’s Governor Larry Hogan declared a state of emergency in Baltimore, activating the National Guard as clashes were underway between riot police and angry protesters.
Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake (R) greets a citizen the morning after citywide riots following the funeral of Freddie Gray in Baltimore, Maryland, on April 28, 2015. (AFP photo)
In addition, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake placed the city under curfew on Tuesday.
On Thursday, Rawlings-Blake said the nightly curfew will remain in place and will be assessed on a "daily basis."
She said that the 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. curfew remained in effect until further notice. "I have made no decision about lifting the curfew. We re-evaluate on a daily basis.”
"We're going to make sure that we keep our young people safe. I don't want to lose another life out on the Baltimore streets because of the violence that has been erupting in our city," the mayor told CNN.
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