Community members and government officials made efforts to restore order to Baltimore on Tuesday after the city erupted in violence just hours after the funeral for Freddie Gray, who died in police custody earlier this month.

 

His death is the latest incident in what seems to be an epidemic of caught on tape police violence against African American men nationwide. Each incident has sparked both peaceful and violent protests and cultivated the Black Lives Matter campaign.

 

Reports described Baltimore streets as similar to “a war zone,” replete with burned buildings, vehicles, smoke and ashes. To date 15 officers were hurt, six were hospitalized, 144 vehicles were set on fire, and almost 200 people were arrested. Residents came out Tuesday to show care and support for their city, cleaning up the destruction and debris left in the riot’s wake.  View Slideshow >

 

“I understand that everybody is upset, I understand that tension is brewing ... I’m here, I get it,” said Laquicha Harper, a 30 year-old woman from Baltimore.

 

“But there are better ways that we can handle our frustration. And they can’t hear us when we’re behaving this way.”

 

Harper was part of Tuesday’s clean-up crew. Government officials from President Barack Obama to Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlins- Blake denounced the violence, deeming it “senseless” and inexcusable.

 

“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,” Rawlings-Blake told reporters during a news conference.

 

“The nation’s mayors urge that any further protests be peaceful and non-violent, as is the right of all Americans under the Constitution,” said San Francisco Mayor Kevin Johnson, president of the National Council of Mayors, also sending out the organization’s condolences to the Gray family.

 

Police reports and eyewitness accounts surrounding Gray’s arrest and subsequent death have been in conflict since the April 12 incident. What’s for sure is that on the morning of April 12 Gray made eye contact with bicycle police who chased Gray when the 25-year-old proceeded to run.

 

Police reports claim that Gray was tackled and arrested for possession of a switchblade “without the use of force” but witnesses said they saw him “dragged”, “folded” and beaten by the officers.

 

Reportedly, a friend who was with Gray and also arrested said he ran because he had violent run-ins with at least one of the officers before. During transport he fell into a coma and was taken to a trauma center where it was determined that he suffered injuries to his spinal cord and larynx. Attempts to save his life through extensive surgery were futile and Gray died on April 19.

 

“The Department of Justice has opened an investigation into the cause of Mr. Gray’s death and the CBC supports that investigation,” Representative G. K. Butterfield (NC-01), Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus said in a statement.

 

“We all play a critical role in helping restore trust in law enforcement and our justice system.  The CBC will continue to work with federal, state and local governments to ensure this system is fair and impartial.  African Americans deserve to be treated equally before the law,” Butterfield said.

 

A city in ruinOn Tuesday the mayor implemented a week long curfewfrom 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. daily, effective for one week

 

Baltimore police said they had received “credible” death threats from area gang members including Black Guerilla Family, Bloods and Crips.

 

Not so, said gang members and protestors at a Monday night meeting.

 

“That was a false alarm cooked up to divide the city even further,” Gray family attorney Bill Murphy  told reporters.

 

“We want to tell the people of Baltimore city that the image they’re trying to portray of gangs in Baltimore, of the BGF, the Bloods, Crips, we did not make a truce to harm cops,” said a gang member.

 

“We did not come together against the cops. We’re not about to let ya’ll paint that picture of us.”

 

Despite efforts to maintain peace and restoration, many say the city of Baltimore has long been rife with conditions that made the recent violence inevitable.

 

“We can’t ignore the fact that the city is burning, but we need to be talking about why it's burning and not romanticize peace and not romanticize marching as the only way to function,” said CNN commentator Marc Hill.

 

“Freddie Gray is dead. That's why the city is burning, and let’s make that clear. It's not burning because of these protesters. The city is burning because the police killed Freddie Gray and that’s a distinction we have to make,” he said.

 

Meanwhile, in Los Angeles where police brutality kicked off major riots in 1965 and in 1992, community activists, leaders, law enforcement and residents participated in a town hall on Tuesday, hoping to prevent an uprising from happening here in the future.

 

However many argued thatthe problems that plague the black community here and in other states are systemic. They would have to be uncovered and addressed before any productive action can take place.

 

“What is happening in Baltimore, in St. Louis and throughout the country is the spillover of all the years of dis-respect and alienation that African Americans have been enduring and feeling within our own community’s for years,” said Danny Bakewell, Sr. civil rights activist.

 

“When any people feel oppressed, disregarded and disrespected in their own homes or communities they feel they have no choice but rise up and let their dissatisfaction be heard,” he said.  “Our community does not need another rebellion; we have not recovered from what happened in 1992 yet, but I would hope that LAPD, the mayor, the City Council and others in leadership understand the systematic problems that have plagued our community and our people for too long and take serious action to help turn the tide on this problem.”

 

“We must continue to strive to make everyone who lives in our community feel pride of ownership in our community,” he said.

 

“We have to continue to invest in making our community an attractive place to live and work.  We have to continue working to keep doors of opportunity open so that our people can realize the hopes and dreams they have for themselves and their families.

 

“And we have to continue to build bridges of understanding with other communities, including law enforcement, because we are all in this together.”

 

(view slideshow) 

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