WASHINGTON — The second night of Baltimore’s citywide curfew passed without any major incidents Wednesday.
The Associated Press reports there were a few stragglers in the area of North and Pennsylvania avenues around 10:15 p.m. Police had not taken any action against the group, though the AP says hundreds of officers in riot gear remained at the scene.
“We are very proud of what has happened here tonight. We are proud of our city,” U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings said, after the area was cleared.
The Washington Post reports about 80 people who were arrested during the protests and rioting in Baltimore earlier in the week were released. They were held in jail without being formally charged, according to the Post.
Meanwhile, in other cities — from D.C. to Boston — thousands took to the streets Wednesday night to protest the death of Freddie Gray. The AP reports more than a dozen people were arrested at a rally in Manhattan’s Union Square.
A return to normalcy
Baltimore began to return normalcy Wednesday morning as city schools opened and regular traffic flowing on most downtown streets, The Associated Press reports.
(Classes, however, are canceled Wednesday for Prince George’s County students who receive special education services in Baltimore.)
In an update to the media just before midnight Tuesday night, Police Commissioner Anthony Batts said that 10 people had been arrested after the curfew went into effect at 10 p.m. Seven of those arrests were for violating the curfew, two were arrested for looting and one person was arrested for disorderly conduct.
Four more people were arrested around 4 a.m., The Washington Post reports.
“The curfew is, in fact, working,” Batts said. “Citizens are safe. The city is stable. We hope to maintain it that way.” Batts said there had been no major incidents. About 3,000 police and National Guardsmen patrolled the streets, The Associated Press says.
Earlier Tuesday night, as the curfew began effect, demonstrators clashed with police. Officers used tear gas canisters and pepper balls to disperse the crowd.
Police said a crowd in the area of North and Pennsylvania avenues refused to leave, and a group reportedly started a fire outside the nearby library. WTOP’s Andrew Mollenbeck reported that water bottles were thrown at a line of police in place.
Just ahead of the curfew, Baltimore police said that at least one officer was injured when a group started attacking officers with rocks and bricks in the area of Patapsco Avenue and 9th Street.
Rep. Elijah Cummings used a bullhorn at one point Tuesday night, calling for peace.
‘Dramatically different’
After a Monday night of violence, Tuesday night in Baltimore was “dramatically different,” Mollenbeck said Wednesday morning.
The difference, Mollenbeck added, was the presence of “far more adults” and community leaders on Tuesday than Monday, when, even though the presence of adults was a calming influence, they were outnumbered.
On Tuesday, he said, “I saw them one-on-one, talking with young people, urging them that there are ways to fight for justice that don’t involve violence.” He added that on Tuesday groups of community leaders formed a buffer zone between police and demonstrators. “It was faces the young people knew from their communities … and that created a sense of calm.”
Mollenbeck hoped for a calm Wednesday, saying the resumption of school would help in that regard. He added that the next large, organized demonstration is set for this weekend at City Hall; organizers, he said, are hoping for tens of thousands of people.
Gray family responds
In response to the violence and unrest, the family of Freddie Gray held a news conference late Monday night.
“I want you all to get justice for my son but don’t do it like this here. Don’t tear up the whole city man, just for him. It’s wrong,” said Gloria Darden, Gray’s mother.
“I think the violence is wrong — I don’t like it all,” said Fredericka Gray, the twin sister of Freddie Gray, adding that she thought her brother would have disapproved.
