Excerpt: "A daily 10 p.m. curfew in Baltimore, which had been in effect for five nights following violent protests over the death of Freddie Gray, was lifted Sunday by the city's mayor."
A protester faces police enforcing a curfew Tuesday in Baltimore. A line of police behind riot shields hurled smoke grenades and fired pepper balls at dozens of protesters to enforce a citywide curfew. (photo: AP)
Baltimore Mayor Lifts Curfew After Five Nights
03 May 15
daily 10 p.m. curfew in Baltimore, which had been in effect for five nights following violent protests over the death of Freddie Gray, was lifted Sunday by the city's mayor.
"I have rescinded my order instituting a city-wide curfew. I want to thank the people of Baltimore for their patience," announced Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake on Twitter.
"My goal has always been to not have the curfew in place a single day longer than was necessary. I believe we have reached that point today," Rawlings-Blake said.
A massive rally on Saturday following charges brought against six officers in Gray's death was largely peaceful, but Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony Batts said the curfew would remain in effect Saturday night in order in ensure the riots and looting that sprung up earlier in the week wouldn't be repeated.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland had decried the decision to impose a curfew, saying in a statement that it was being used as a deterrence to First Amendment rights. "The curfew is an extraordinary measure that has clearly outlived its usefulness, and reminds city residents of their broken relationship with police," Deborah Jeon, the legal director of the ACLU of Maryland, wrote in the statement.
Twenty people were arrested during protests Saturday night, according to The Associated Press. A police officer was recorded pepper-spraying one man who was detained after he walked toward officers.
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan said in a statement Saturday that 3,000 National Guardsmen, 578 state troopers and 432 officers from other states had been deployed to respond to the demonstrations. On Sunday he had not yet lifted a state of emergency that was declared in the wake of Monday's looting and violence.
Rawlings-Blake said patrol by the National Guard would "unwind" gradually.
"It's not like you flip a switch," she said.
"A lot of the unrest has been settled, but that doesn't mean the work doesn't continue," Rawlings-Blake said during a Sunday afternoon news conference outside of Baltimore's Mondawmin Mall. The shopping center had been closed after rioters vandalized some of the stores earlier in the week, but it was reopening Sunday, according to the mall's website.
"We want to heal our city," said Rawlings-Blake, who commended the vendors for their resilience and also thanked faith leaders in the community, who she said supported her and are helping to rebuild the city.
Hogan said Sunday that lifting the curfew was a "good idea" because the city needed to start rebuilding. Hogan said about 200 Baltimore businesses were lost in the mayhem. "Let's get people coming back to the city … it's safe and we've got calm and peace," he said.
Hogan had called for a statewide "Day of Prayer and Peace" on the first Sunday since the unrest erupted. "I pray that tomorrow will be a day of reflection and will serve as a foundation for how we all conduct ourselves in the days and months to come," he said in a statement Saturday night.
The governor attended a church service Sunday morning at St. Peter Claver Church, less than a mile away from where Gray was arrested.
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