Homicide of Freddie Grey leads to riots (2015)

Tysha Burrell, Editor
January 22, 2020

On April 12, 2015, Freddie Grey was arrested for possession of an illegal knife. On the 18th, 25 year-old Grey slipped into a coma while being transported in a Baltimore City police van. This news outraged Baltimore citizens and they started to protest. 

The next day when the news broke that he had died, riots started to break out in West Baltimore. During the trail, his death was considered a murder. However, none of the officers were convicted. While they were suspended without pay, they soon went back and started to work for the department. 

As time went on the protests got worse. People started looting, setting things on fire and throwing them into the streets, and it all happened on live television. News channels showed people in Baltimore running out of Mondawmin mall with carts full of clothes, appliances and electronics. 

A CVS was shown being burned down. The city declared a state of emergency. The national guard and state troops were brought in. Martial law was considered to put a stop to the violence.The riot lasted 16 days. Near the end of the riots, clergies pleaded to the people who were rioting to stop and join them in peaceful protest. They walked along the streets until the riots stopped. 

After everything was over, West Baltimore was in ruins. Citizens were put under curfew. The city was in the process of recovering for months. 

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