Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
World
Nicky Woolf in Washington with Oliver Laughland, Paul Lewis, Mae Ryan and Jon Swaine in Baltimore, Jana Kasperkevic and Kayla Epstein in New York and Sarah Betancourt in Boston

Freddie Gray protests sweep US from Baltimore to New York – as it happened

Students from Baltimore colleges and high schools march in protest on their way to city hall on Tuesday.
Students from Baltimore colleges and high schools march in protest chanting “Justice for Freddie Gray” on their way to city hall on Tuesday. Photograph: Win McNamee/Getty Images

We're wrapping up our live coverage now. Here's how things stand:

Wednesday saw a quieter evening in Baltimore, but more widespread protests around the country in New York, Washington, DC, Boston and Ferguson, Missouri.

Stories began to emerge in the press tonight about the events surrounding the death of Freddie Gray, including this piece in the Washington Post which revealed police documents which suggest Gray injured himself. The validity of the documents as a source was quickly questioned, however.

Despite “more than 60” arrests in New York, the protests all appeared to be ending relatively peacefully at this stage. The number of arrests in Baltimore tonight has not yet been released.

New York police department public information office confirm to the Guardian that “over 60” people arrested in NYC Freddie Gray solidarity protest.

Demonstrators face off against New York police officers as they try to block an entrance to the Holland Tunnel.
Demonstrators face off against New York police officers as they try to block an entrance to the Holland Tunnel. Photograph: Michael Abbott/Getty Images
Protestors lay in the street at Herald Square in New York.
Protestors lay in the street at Herald Square in New York. Photograph: Julie Jacobson/AP

Updated

WBAL just played an interview with “a relative” of one of the police officers involved in the team in the van in which Freddie Gray was mortally injured.

From what I understand when they have someone thats irate they may stop and do certain things like the leg shackles and handcuffs, but if they’re still irate they wont put the seatbelt on because that puts [the officers] at risk, and not knowing whether they have anything in their mouths, or going to bite them - who wants to risk that?

“Does the officer believe he did anything wrong?” asked investigative reporter Jayne Miller.

No. No.

In their minds they did the right thing. And they hurt behind the backlash more than anything.

Jayne Miller, an investigative reporter for WBAL, the Baltimore ABC affiliate station, was just on MSNBC talking about that Washington Post story.

In New York:

And in Baltimore:

Here’s a video shot by Sarah Betancourt earlier at the Boston solidarity protest:

They walked through the streets of Boston, chanting, “Being black is not a crime, same story every time,” and “every night and every day. Join the fight for Freddie Gray!” Students linked arms, and families peered curiously out of low income housing along Shawmut Avenue.

And a shot from just now from Paul Lewis. More photography from our reporters on the ground available on the Guardian US Instagram account.

Here’s a picture from earlier, in New York, taken by Kayla:

Sarah Betancourt is in Boston and filed this report from the solidarity protest there:

A black man with dreadlocks and a green, red, and yellow knit cap pushed a wheelchair carrying his three year old daughter, Heritage. He pushed her along as if he had a mission, and when asked by The Guardian about his intent at the rally, he had an interesting story. Jahwasei Roberts, a labor worker in Watertown, is originally from the Caribbean, but has been in Boston since 1981. He alleges that he has been arrested 84 times since then.

“I’m am a victim of police brutality. I’ve been arrested 84 times in this country. Never in my life have I done wrong by anybody. I’ve been arrested while driving because I’m black. I live in Allston-Brighton, and have many white friends. When shaking their hands in public, I have been arrested. I have been held overnight. But sometimes they let me go. I’m not doing anything. I have brought my child because they are killing our children. We are standing up for the future. She is my future. My six-month old son is here too with my wife.” His wife Tamiqua Woods joined us later with their sleeping little boy and smiled.

Roberts would like to see change. “I would really love for this to go to the President and Congress. I wish they would make a bill that police would stop unnecessary violence and kill people for no reason.”

Bostonians marched in solidarity with the people of Baltimore who are currently mourning and protesting the death of Freddie Gray, a West Baltimore man who died after being arrested on April 12. Over a thousands protesters convened near the Boston Police Headquarters, including hundreds of college students and black activists.

People march in protest in Boston, Massachusetts.
People march in protest in Boston, Massachusetts. Photograph: Brian Snyder/REUTERS

Updated

About 70 or 80 protesters in Washington, DC, just went past where I’m live-blogging, on their way to the junction of 14th and U.

Like the good journalist I am, I ran out and took this vine:

Here is a video from Jana of that tense moment at the New York protest:

Tense moment in New York

A tense moment in New York, as Jana reports:

Things just got a little tense in Times Square as a little over 100 people attempted to march down 7th avenue.

The cops walking alongside the march were trying to get crowd to move to the side, but there were barricades on the other side. As marchers were pushed into the barricades toppled and there was about two minute-long stand-off between the cops and marchers.

The police had been pretty effective at separating the match and dispersing smaller groups. Many of the marchers met up in time square and have now marched into the street on 42nd street on their way to 8th avenue.

A man with a camera right next to me was just arrested.

Rep. Elijah Cummings is there again tonight, per reports - apparently telling Fox News’ Geraldo Rivera off:

Clearer message on the status of the media tonight than last night .

As happened last night, helicopters are now warning people that the curfew is in place.

Oliver and Paul both caught it on vine:

National Guard stand by during a 10 p.m. curfew in Baltimore.
National Guard stand by during a 10 p.m. curfew in Baltimore. Photograph: Matt Rourke/AP

Updated

Relative quiet on the Baltimore front

Curfew is now in place in Baltimore

Here’s where we are so far:

Protesters are marching in Ferguson, Missouri; New York; Minneapolis and Boston, as well as in Baltimore, all relatively peaceful.

Last night it took police in Baltimore around an hour and a half to disperse protesters from the streets.

Back in Baltimore, with less than ten minutes to go until curfew:

More analysis from Paul Lewis about that Washington Post story. He notes that the document in question was written by “a *police* investigator”.

Freddie Gray protests are also going on in Ferguson, Missouri tonight.

Great story from the Washington Post tonight, who have a document with statements from the guy who was in the same police van as Freddie Gray.

The prisoner - who has not been named - said that he could hear Gray “banging against the walls.”

He said he thought Gray was “trying to harm himself,” though the Guardian’s Paul Lewis says that should be treated with some caution.

You can read the whole story here.

Updated

And the Guardian’s Editor-in-Chief, Alan Rusbridger, is also on the scene in New York:

New York, of course:

And our own Jana Kasperkevic is still with protesters marching north:

With 40 minutes to go until curfew in Baltimore, let’s have a look at the protests going on across the country in sympathy today. First: Minneapolis, Minnesota.

As with last night, police officers will now start using bullhorns to announce the incoming curfew

Jana is still with the protesters in New York, who appear to be making their way north toward Harlem:

One hour to go until curfew.

Protesters are still thronging the streets of Baltimore, as well as New York and Boston.

Sarah Betancourt is in Boston at another Freddie Gray protest.

She says that earlier she interviewed someone from West Baltimore who claimed to have been arrested 84 times in the last 34 years.

Jana Kasperkevic continues her reporting from the New York protests.

She sends this report:

Shortly after 7PM, the crowd attempted to march west along east 17th street - and that is when the peaceful rally ended.

Coming from the 5th avenue and east 17th street intersection the NYPD blocked the march and began arresting those blocking traffic. As arrests started, the surrounding protesters moved to the sidewalk to avoid arrests.

One woman yelled at the policeman nearby: “are you proud of your job?”

The police formed lines alongside the sidewalks. As more protesters were led by in handcuffs, those on the sidewalk chanted “shame!”

Once again the NYPD began blasting the announced asking those gathered to stay off the street or face arrest. The announcement was played throughout the following hour. There were at least 5 arrested that I saw and they were all fairly young- probably in their early 20s.

An hour ago, Baltimore police commissioner Anthony Batts brandished a rock that had been thrown at one of his officers at a press conference, in which he also said there had been 16 adult arrests and two juveniles today so far.

He said that there had been no major incidents today so far; a large crowd came down to city hall, he said, and the police had shifted national guard and state troopers to respond.

He described today’s protest as “extremely peaceful” and said he wasn’t anticipating any issues tonight.

The full video of the press conference is here:

Commissioner Batts press conference

More video from Paul at the protest in Baltimore. “A people - united - will never be defeated!”

Jana Kasperkevic, at the protest in New York, sends this dispatch:

The rally #NYCriseup started pretty peacefully - until about 7:15. The crowd was gathering at the north side of the park and was pretty varied - people of all ages and colors.

When I arrived at about 6:30 there were about 250 protesters present but more were arriving from all directions. By 7:15, the crowd reached about 500.

The New York police congregated at the edges of the park. The barricades were set up at edges of the park. The outside upscale restaurant at the park was open and the staff and patrons looked on as the crowd grew.

From the north east side the NYPD attempted to blast a message that the crowd should not block the streets or they will be arrested, and charged with disorderly conduct; but it was barely heard over the sound of helicopters overhead - two, I think - and the chants.

She’s taking pictures, too:

More powerful video from Paul at the protest. “All night, all day, we will fight for Freddie Gray!”

Video by Paul Lewis

Paul Lewis asks a national guardsman in Baltimore if they’re under any specific instructions on how to police the protests. “Yes,” he says.

Look, most of us have been deployed to very hostile parts of the world, Afghanistan, Iraq. Baltimore is not Afghanistan ... we’re here to provide peace and security.

Here’s the full video:

Paul Lewis interviews a national guardsman

An interesting side-note: Uproxx - via Justin Fenton, a reporter for the Baltimore Sun - are reporting that Novak’s grocery store - where Omar was killed in The Wire - was destroyed by fire on Monday.

Read more here.

A reminder from Baltimore city police department that the curfew once again goes into effect tonight at 10PM.

Kayla Epstein, at the rapidly-intensifying protests in New York’s Union Square, files this report:

Hundreds of protesters filled the north end of Union Square, reciting the now-iconic “black lives matter” chant and Freddie Gray’s name. What began as a sanguine protest suddenly turned heated when a column of protesters tried to march west from Union Square and were confronted by well over 50 NYPD officers, some in riot gear.

Police attempted to push the protesters back towards the square - or at least on to the sidewalk - but we’re surrounded by protesters, and their numerous cameras and smartphones. The police blasted warnings for pedestrians to stay on the sidewalk but were swarmed in on all sides. Through the melee, demonstrators shouted slurs at police, calling them “pigs” and “murderers” and took photos and live streams of the scene.

Several minutes on the cops began to arrest protesters, tying their hands with zip ties and in some cases physically carrying them towards a waiting police van at the end of the block.

“We have a right to protest and to be upset,” said Tiffany Brown, 26.

The crowd eventually receded back to Union Square to regroup and about 15 minutes later began to march north.

Updated

A fabulous picture by Joe Giordano, a photographer for the Baltimore City Paper:

Breaking news:

...from Oliver Laughland, who files this dispatch about more than 100 people arrested Monday being released after Governor Hogan’s decision to suspend Habeas Corpus was challenged:

101 people detained without charge following rioting in Baltimore on Monday are currently being released from the Baltimore City Detention Center.

Natalie Finegar, the deputy district public defender in Baltimore City told the Guardian that after 82 habeas corpus petitions were filed to the attorney general’s office a decision was made to release those who have yet to have charges read against them.

The move comes after the Maryland governor Larry Hogan issued an executive order effectively suspending habeas corpus in the city. Hogan described the decision as “necessary to protect the public safety” but critics argue it is a mechanism to deal with the swelling numbers detained by police after and during the riots but were not issued with any charges after their detention.

Finegar said the decision to hold so many “without any respect for due process” could “further shake the confidence in the criminal justice system for those arrested”.

She said many of those detained had complained of the harsh conditions in jail. Some complained of going 18 hours without food and later being given inedible pieces of bread.

All clients were being advised to return straight home and observe the 10pm citywide curfew.

At the district court on Wednesday dozens of alleged rioters were charged with crimes ranging from theft and burglary to disorderly conduct. The Guardian understands that all those who have been charged and did not meet bail will continue to be detained.

Updated

More pictures of the New York protests from user NYC Scanner:

Some estimates of the numbers in Union Square much higher, in the several thousands - no confirmed numbers yet.

Kayla is live on Periscope, and reports that arrests are being made in New York:

Protesters in Baltimore currently walking north on Calvert Street, heading towards North Avenue, according to police. More outside Penn Station.

In Union Square in New York, as many as 500 protesters are demonstrating in sympathy, according to Jana.

Protesters in the streets of Baltimore on Wednesday, April 29.
Protesters in the streets of Baltimore on Wednesday, April 29. Photograph: Robert K. Hamilton/ZUMA Press/Corbis
A protester is detained by New York police during a demonstration in the Manhattan borough of New York City.
A protester is detained by New York police during a demonstration in the Manhattan borough of New York City. Photograph: Andrew Kelly/REUTERS

Updated

Kayla and Jana are with the protest in New York.

But report some police resistance:

Earlier, Baltimore mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, who was slammed on Monday for delaying action - including, implicitly, by Maryland’s governor Larry Hogan - addressed her critics in a statement:

I was born in Baltimore; I grew up in Baltimore; I raise my daughter here in Baltimore. I have spent my entire career whether as a public defender, a City Councilwoman, or as Mayor fighting to make my city a stronger place. When you see your home on fire and the people you grew up with suffering, you do not hesitate to ask for help.

So let me be very clear: when it was time to make the decision to call in the National Guard, I did so without delay and without equivocation.I have no interest in politicizing this crisis. We have too much to do.

The people of Baltimore deserve order for our home and justice for Freddie Gray. To do this, we have to work together as we continue the journey towards healing our city.”

Marshall Cooper Jr. holds hands with fellow demonstrators in Boston on Wednesday
Marshall Cooper Jr. holds hands with fellow demonstrators in Boston on Wednesday Photograph: BRIAN SNYDER/REUTERS
Students from Baltimore colleges and high schools march in protest on their way to City Hall
Students from Baltimore colleges and high schools march in protest on their way to City Hall Photograph: Win McNamee/Getty Images

...as is Paul Lewis, by a protest truck in Baltimore:

The Guardian’s Kayla Epstein and Jana Kaspercevic are at the protest in New York’s Union Square. Kayla is live on Periscope right now:

We’re back with another day of unrest in Baltimore, and the third since violence and rioting broke out following the funeral of Freddie Gray on Monday.
Gray died on April 19 of injuries sustained after being arrested by police in West Baltimore a week earlier. His spine was almost completely severed.

On Tuesday, a 10pm curfew imposed by Baltimore mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake – along with the addition of 1,000 extra police officers and almost 2,000 national guard personnel – was largely successful at dispersing protesters peacefully, avoiding a repeat of Monday’s violence in which 15 police officers were injured.

Tonight, protests around the country – including in New York, San Diego, Boston and Washington DC – as well as a large protest currently gathering outside Baltimore’s city hall will once again test police resolve and patience.

Stay with us.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Guy shoots rap concert using a GameBoy camera. Don't believe me? Read this…
A man has used a GameBoy camera to photograph a rap concert, using a 3D-printed rig to attach his phone to the console to video himself
Digital Camera World
Digital Camera World
How Long Would It Take a Millennial To Buy Archie Bunker’s House Today?
How in the world did Archie Bunker afford that house, and how long would it take a Millennial to buy it off of his heirs today? Forever. It's forever.
GOBankingRates
GOBankingRates
‘Honestly a PSA’: Woman forgets to pack underwear for a trip. Her ‘trick’ has people vowing to never drink hotel coffee again
A St. Louis woman posted a disgusting and unsanitary life hack that has people questioning every cup of coffee they have ever had in a hotel room. 
The Mary Sue
The Mary Sue
Kelly Osbourne describes grief as a 'quiet weight' - seven months after dad Ozzy Osbourne's death
Kelly Osbourne has described grief as the "quiet weight you learn to carry" - seven months after her dad, Ozzy Osbourne, died.
BANG Premier
BANG Premier
If Bond 26 Is An Origin Story, I Have A Wild Idea For The Movie
There’s an oft-overlooked bit of Bond history that could work here.
Cinemablend
Cinemablend
Who is Adonis? American travel streamer detained after assault clash with Romanian local during viral Bucharest livestream
American streamer Adonis was detained in Bucharest after a livestream fight with a Romanian local who allegedly spat on him. The viral video shows a heated argument before punches were thrown. Police arrived at the scene, and the local was treated by medics. Adonis later posted a cryptic message on…
The Times of India
The Times of India
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play