Welcome to RantCrush Top 5, where we take you through today’s top five controversial stories in the world of law and policy. Who’s ranting and raving right now? Check it out below:

Let The Sexist Commentary Begin!

Last night at the DNC, Hillary Clinton officially accepted the Democratic Party’s nomination for president. Many viewers, including myself, were in awe of such a historic moment. I’m sure the opposition seized in disbelief. We all have a lot to say about what went on last night, from Katy Perry’s performance to Hillary Clinton’s killer white pantsuit (loved it!). But for some reason, the hot topic this morning is not what Hillary said during her acceptance speech, but how she sounded.

James Naughtie, a BBC commentator on the “Today Programme,” responded to a question about whether Clinton had a “woman problem” saying:

 She does. There’s something about her which puts some people off. It’s partly the history. It’s partly the slightly shrill tone which she tends to adopt sometimes in speeches.

And during her speech on Thursday night, many on Twitter couldn’t resist telling Clinton to smile and commenting about her voice. I guess we’ve got a lot of sexist coverage to look forward to.

via GIPHY

Rant Crush

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The post RantCrush Top 5: July 29, 2016 appeared first on Law Street.

Welcome to RantCrush Top 5, where we take you through today’s top five controversial stories in the world of law and policy. Who’s ranting and raving right now? Check it out below:

Trump: Russia Should Find Hillary’s Emails

As the fallout from the DNC email leak continues and more evidence points toward Russian involvement, Donald Trump just had to involve himself in the controversy. In a press conference earlier today, Trump called on Russia to find the emails deleted from Hillary Clinton’s email server before it was turned over to the FBI. But reaching out to Russia right now might not be the best thing for Trump, as some circumstantial evidence points to ties between him and prominent Russians. Some critics went as far as to suggest a new logo for the Trump campaign:

pic.twitter.com/bvpPN83mHc

— Rick Tyler (@rickwtyler) July 27, 2016

Rant Crush

RantCrush collects the top trending topics in the law and policy world each day just for you.

The post RantCrush Top 5: July 27, 2016 appeared first on Law Street.

Welcome to RantCrush Top 5, where we take you through today’s top five controversial stories in the world of law and policy. Who’s ranting and raving right now? Check it out below:

John Kasich Skips RNC, Trump Camp Calls Him Out

Donald Trump’s chief advisor used the first day of the Republican National Convention to call out John Kasich for not endorsing Donald Trump or participating in the convention. “He’s embarrassing his party in Ohio,” Mr. Manafort said.

Kasich’s decision was influenced by his own campaign strategist, who thinks Kasich’s chances of winning are better if he does not back Trump. This assumption is what Manafort called “a dumb, dumb, dumb thing.” Maybe John Kasich is actually taking the smart route, staying home and playing RNC drinking games like the rest of us!

via GIPHY

Rant Crush

RantCrush collects the top trending topics in the law and policy world each day just for you.

The post RantCrush Top 5: July 19, 2016 appeared first on Law Street.

Another police officer has been found not guilty on all charges in the death of Freddie Gray. Ceasar R. Goodson Jr. was the third officer out of six to stand trial after the 25-year-old Baltimore man died while in police custody. None of the trials so far have ended in a conviction–a troubling sign for those who hope for justice for the Gray family.

The first trial in the case of Freddie Gray in December 2015 ended in a mistrial due to the jury’s inability to deliver a unanimous verdict. In May, the second officer to go to trial was cleared of all charges, including second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, and two counts of misconduct in office.

On Thursday, Goodson–who drove the van that took Freddie Gray to prison–was also cleared of all charges. His charges were the most serious: second-degree murder, manslaughter, assault, reckless endangerment, and misconduct in office.

Freddie Gray was arrested last April after running from officers. The officers found he had a knife on him and placed him in the police van. With feet shackled, hands cuffed behind his back, and no seat belt, he had no chance of holding on during the ride.

The prosecutor claimed that Goodson made a wide turn to intentionally injure Gray. Gray ended up unconscious with a fatal spine injury as well as head injuries in the back of the van, and died a week later. The Judge Barry G. Williams rejected the claim, saying, “The court finds there is insufficient evidence that the defendant gave or intended to give Mr. Gray a rough ride.”

The verdict has sparked new life for opinions from the public as well as celebrities.

NO1 KILLED FREDDIE GRAY,
& YET…HE’S DEADTHERE MUST B DEFINITIVE
DIMENSIONS & DESCRIPTIONS
OF LEGAL KNIFE..WHAT R THEYWHATS“FUZZINESS”

— Cher (@cher) June 23, 2016

It is unacceptable that #FreddieGray's death was ruled a homicide & yet no police officer was held responsible. This is happening too often.

— Dr. Jill Stein (@DrJillStein) June 23, 2016

They kill our daddies then make fun of us for being fatherless. #FreddieGray pic.twitter.com/LEHuTZaE0l

— Bipartisan Report (@Bipartisanism) June 23, 2016

How long can we ask our brothers and sisters to be patient when justice for #FreddieGray is not served?

— Susan Sarandon (@SusanSarandon) June 23, 2016

The result of Thursday’s verdict also puts increased pressure on Baltimore State Attorney, Marilyn Mosby, who initially promised to bring justice in the case. To charge police officers with murder is extremely unusual. According to NBC, no officer has been convicted for murder or manslaughter in the line of duty between 2005 and 2011. It was seen as a very ambitious move from Mosby.

“If she abandons the prosecution of the four remaining trials, the only interpretation of that is that she has been defeated–certainly that does not bode well politically for her,” said lawyer Warren Alperstein to New York Times.

Hopefully Mosby succeeds in bringing some justice for the people of Baltimore, and in doing so, sets an example for the future of police conduct.

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post Driver in Freddie Gray Case Found Not Guilty appeared first on Law Street.

A Baltimore judge acquitted Officer Edward Nero of all charges for his role in the arrest and death of Freddie Gray, the 25-year-old black man who died a week after sustaining a severe spinal injury while in police custody on April 12, 2015.

Nero waived his right to a  jury trial, opting to argue his case before a circuit judge. After six days of hearings, Judge Barry Williams found him not guilty of second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, and two counts of misconduct in office.

Nero is the first of the six officers charged to receive a verdict for his involvement in Gray’s death. However, he’s not the first officer to go to trial. In December, Officer William G. Porter was awarded a mistrial after a hung jury failed to deliver a unanimous verdict–they claimed they were deadlocked on every charge.

Following the verdict, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said in a statement,

This is our American system of justice and police officers must be afforded the same justice system as every other citizen in this city, state, and country. Now that the criminal case has come to an end, Officer Nero will face an administrative review by the Police Department. We once again ask the citizens to be patient and to allow the entire process to come to a conclusion.

But it’s hard for the citizens of Baltimore to remain patient, when so many of the details surrounding Gray’s death still remain unclear.

What we do know is that Gray took off running after making eye contact with police. After being chased on foot, Gray was caught and found with an illegal switchblade in his possession. Gray was then arrested and placed in the back of a police van without a seatbelt and with his legs shackled. At some point during the half-hour drive to the jail Gray suffered a spinal injury, which many attribute as the result of a “rough ride,” a form of police brutality. Gray died in a hospital a week later.

Gray’s death helped reignite the #BlackLivesMatter movement, and sparked legendary riots in the city of Baltimore that quickly escalated into violence.

After news of Nero’s acquittal went public, the hashtag #FreddieGray shot to the top of Twitter’s trending topics. And just like the Baltimore riots, frustration over Gray’s death began to bring out the worst in people on social media. Some people spoke of rioting and hurting cops, while others dolled out celebratory racial slurs and mocked Gray’s death.

But for the vast majority of hashtag users, it wasn’t violence or jubilation they wished to convey–it was outrage.

Video shared by @LarryCFOX45 shows protesters reacting to not guilty verdict in Edward Nero trial #FreddieGray pic.twitter.com/x6ABnVRmmk

— BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) May 23, 2016

I remember you today, #FreddieGray. I’m praying for your family. The pursuit of justice and peace continues. pic.twitter.com/3Uj653ibqx

— Be A King (@BerniceKing) May 23, 2016

1 Police kill someone 2 Police lie to the media 3 We talk about it 4 The media talk about it 5 System stays the same 6 Repeat #FreddieGray

— Lex Looper (@lex_looper) May 23, 2016

Still trying to figure out how #FreddieGray died a violent death while shackled and in police custody, and nobody is held accountable.

— JustCallMeHerb (@JusCallMeHerb) May 23, 2016

1 hung jury & 1 not guilty verdict but #FreddieGray dead from a severed spine after contact with said cops. #BlackLivesMatter? Clearly not.

— VanityByNature (@VanityByNature) May 23, 2016

#FreddieGray had his Constitutional rights completely & utterly violated. The use of lethal force by American police officers needs reform.

— سامر / סאמר (@MashriqLands) May 23, 2016

Twitter is an especially racist and ugly place today. All we want is justice. #FreddieGray #Baltimore #BlackLivesMatter

— kamau Waset (@KamauWaset) May 23, 2016

The four remaining officers still await individual trial in connection with Gray’s death, and Officer Porter also awaits a retrial. If these past trials are any indication of what is to come, it’s beginning to look doubtful that any of the officers will be found guilty.

Alexis Evans

Alexis Evans is an Assistant Editor at Law Street and a Buckeye State native. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and a minor in Business from Ohio University. Contact Alexis at aevans@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post Twitter Reacts: Baltimore Officer Acquitted in Freddie Gray Death appeared first on Law Street.

The trial of the first officer charged in the death of Freddie Gray has officially ended in indecision–a hung jury caused the judge to declare it a mistrial. The prosecutors have said they plan on retrying Officer William G. Porter, and given that there are five more officers to be tried after Porter, this saga is far from over.

Freddie Gray died while in police custody last April. He was arrested for possessing an illegal switchblade, and then while being transported via police van, fell into a coma and later passed away. It was later determined that his neck was broken while riding in the police van–while his ankles and wrists were restrained, he wasn’t strapped in. An autopsy determined his neck broke when he slammed into part of the van at some point during the ride. After Gray’s death, protests erupted in Baltimore, as well as in solidarity in other American cities.

Porter was the first of six officers to be tried for Gray’s death; according to the New York Times, he:

Was charged with manslaughter, assault and reckless endangerment and misconduct in office; the state accused him of ‘callous indifference’ to Mr. Gray’s life for failing to call a medic after Mr. Gray asked for one, and for not buckling Mr. Gray into a police transport van, where he suffered a fatal injury to his spinal cord.

The jury deliberated three days, on a trial that began on December 2, but couldn’t come to a unanimous decision on any of the charges, which is required for conviction. According to Kalani Gordon, of the Baltimore Sun, there were multiple points of contention for the jury that kept them from coming to a final decision. Those included:

• Disagreements from expert witnesses about when Gray’s injury occurred;
• The rule that arrestees being transported must be seat-belted had recently been changed and the officers may not have known about the change;
• Disagreements in witness testimony over whether Porter knew Gray was badly hurt;
• Conflicting arguments from the Prosecution and Defense over the responsibilities of police officers;
• Maryland laws about manslaughter and depraved-heart murder are vague.

So, while Porter wasn’t found guilty, he wasn’t found not guilty either. The prosecutors will have to try again–we’ll have to see if this time they are successful.

Anneliese Mahoney

Anneliese Mahoney is Managing Editor at Law Street and a Connecticut transplant to Washington D.C. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and a passion for law, politics, and social issues. Contact Anneliese at amahoney@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post Freddie Gray: First Officer’s Case Ends in Mistrial appeared first on Law Street.

The death of Freddie Gray at the hands of Baltimore police earlier this year sparked protests throughout the state of Maryland and nationwide. In light of Gray’s death, as well as the larger national conversation about the treatment of black citizens at the hands of police officers, the University of Maryland Carey School of Law, which is located in Baltimore, designed a class to address some of the legal questions that are crucial to that conversation.

The course is entitled “Freddie Gray’s Baltimore: Past, Present, and Moving Forward” and will be open to both students at the law school as well as students in the University of Maryland School of Social Work. The law school described the inspiration for the class, stating:

The idea for this course emanates from the recent disturbances in Baltimore arising from Freddie Gray’s arrest and his resulting death. These events have highlighted and/or uncovered serious on-going social and financial dislocations within the City. The course will examine the recent unrest itself and then examine the causes of, and possible solutions to, those dislocations, including an examination of problems in policing; criminal justice; housing; health care; education; poverty; and community development and joblessness.

As Professor Michael Greenberger explained to the class on its first day: “This was a problem that predated Freddie Gray. Freddie Gray is the most solid evidence.”

According to Greenberger, the class has 90 students, and will rely in part on the current cases against the police officers that were charged in relation to Gray’s death. Given the fact that the cases are ongoing, the students will be able to watch them as they develop, and learn from different visiting lecturers who will be able to share their takes. Additionally, each week will address another topic related to the social justice aspects of the Freddie Gray case.

Yvette Pappoe, one of the students in the class, explained her motivation for taking the class to a local news station, saying:

We’ll be able to talk about it in a legal perspective and also from a human perspective. We have a way to loosen up and talk about the real issues because it’s a really sensitive time and sensitive topic

Pappoe is right–many of the aspects of Freddie Gray’s death, and the other crucial topics that the class will examine are real issues that will require smart legal minds to be solved. By delving into these topics, UMD Law is doing its students, and hopefully its community, a service.

Anneliese Mahoney

Anneliese Mahoney is Managing Editor at Law Street and a Connecticut transplant to Washington D.C. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and a passion for law, politics, and social issues. Contact Anneliese at amahoney@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post UMD Carey School of Law Introduces Freddie Gray Course appeared first on Law Street.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is now worrying about how it will handle the newest influx of drugs on Baltimore streets. Following the death of Freddie Gray, some Baltimore citizens rioted the streets, attempting to loot as many stores as possible. Over thirty pharmacies and clinics were targeted during that time, and enough doses of Oxycodone, Suboxone, Morphine, Fentanyl and other drugs were taken to keep the city’s drug users high for a year.

In a city with a large population of heroin addicts, this increase of drugs on the street may add to the problems police and city officials face in dealing with the rise of shootings and murders. With more than 175,000 doses of opiates and other prescription drugs stolen, law enforcement officials believe the new flow of prescription pills will breed new addicts and more violence. They also believe that many of those addicts will turn to cheaper heroin once the prescription drugs dry up. 

In response to the city’s plea for help, the Drug Enforcement Administration and other federal agencies are seeking to prosecute the leaders of gang and drug dealing organizations.

Gary Tuggle, former Assistant Special Agent in Charge of DEA Baltimore District and former Baltimore cop, led the DEA’s efforts in Baltimore in drawing up a list of potential suspects. The DEA is currently circulating photos of about 60 people they believe to have looted these drugs.

Tuggle recalls his time as a police officer and how the drug market has changed since that time:

The street purity of heroin was 2-5%. Today we are seeing purity levels up to 80-85% and then some cases, a kilo of heroin would cost $140-160,000. Today you can get it for between $65 and $70,000 so you see the economics of it when you have a level of supply and level of demand that uses that inventory its literally bringing the cost down and purity levels up.

According the DEA, the influx of drugs on the streets has created a series of turf wars between gangs and independent drug dealers who are competing for territory. Tuggle says:

In some cases you have the gangs taxing other gangs or independent drug dealers. Other times, gangs feel their territory is being threatened, which leads to a disruption in the balance of power and that’s only going to lead to violence.

Police say it is the violence inflicted by the influx of drugs that is partially responsible for the large spike of murders in May.

DEA agents claim to know which areas of town are best for heroin or other drugs. They identified specifically the Sandtown area of Baltimore as having an active heroin market, and the Lexington Market downtown as a location where a circulation of prescription opiates have recently developed. Those most affected by the drug dealing are victims of drug users who come from all over the city. Tuggle stated:

At the end of the day these communities have very, very decent people, hardworking people who want to work and educate their families and support their families […] But a lot of these people dealing in these neighborhoods are not from these neighborhoods. Some of them have nice homes in the suburbs or they live in high rise apartment sin downtown Baltimore. So they come into these communities to take advantage of these communities.

Police believe prescription drugs to be at least partially responsible for Baltimore’s deadliest month in decades–there were 43 murders in the month of May alone. Police are currently working to arrest potential suspects responsible for the recent violent streak, but do not believe the problem will be solved quickly. 

With a limited number of buyers on the street, drug dealers are competing for every dollar and creating turf wars. These turf wars are primarily between gangs and independent drug dealers; these groups are more likely to settle disputes with violence leading to that spike in shootings and murders.

“We’re talking about people. These are not numbers. These are human beings who’ve lost their lives in the streets of Baltimore,” said Police Commissioner Anthony Batts.

So, what does this mean for the residents of Baltimore? Even though the city has had a long history of drug abuse, it seems to recently be getting worse. Now community members that may not be associated with drugs are suddenly right in the middle of a turf war because the dealers have no concern for the lives they are putting at risk. You would think it would be easy to just encourage community members to reach out to police officers when they see suspicious activity, but with the tensions between police officers and minority communities, that’s a completely different battle. With these new drugs on the streets of Baltimore, it seems like they are in for a year of heartache unless the Baltimore Police Department can do something to change it.

Angel Idowu

Angel Idowu is a member of the Beloit College Class of 2016 and was a Law Street Media Fellow for the Summer of 2015. Contact Angel at staff@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post Prescription Drug Influx Doesn’t Bode Well for Baltimore appeared first on Law Street.

It’s official–last month marked the third highest number of homicides in Baltimore history. The city saw 43 homicides in the month of May while arrest rates sharply declined. Since Freddie Gray’s controversial death in April, the relationship between the police and the public has taken a turn for the worse. Unrelenting media coverage and public outcry over police-related violence have made 2015 the year of police scrutiny, or as some may say, accountability. Recent cases of police-related violence have led to greater distrust in the police in many areas across the country.

The growing sense of disconnect between local communities and the police has led many to question whether law enforcement is the problem, not the solution. Some believe they are better off without the constant presence of the police. This belief is especially common in the city of Baltimore, where riots erupted after Freddie Gray’s death.

The protests sent a message to Baltimore police officers indicating that they were undesired in many communities. The riots also led to a rapid decline in proactive law enforcement techniques, an effort to appease many Baltimore residents. But in light of recent murder statistics, are people better off with less policing?

The month of May saw a drastic decline in police activity, with arrests going down approximately 56 percent compared the same period last year. In May 2014, police arrested 2,396 people in the first 19 days of the month, with an average of 126 arrests per day. Last month, however, there were considerably fewer arrests, as police arrested 1,045 people, an average of 55 arrests per day.

Anthony Batts, the Commissioner of the Baltimore City Police Department, attributes the dramatic decrease in proactive policing in Baltimore to the growing fear of prosecution among police officers. At a recent city council meeting, Batts said “There are people, and they’ve said this to me, ‘If I get out of my car and make a stop for a reasonable suspicion that leads to probable cause but I make a mistake on it, will I be arrested?’” This growing fear of legal action against officers appears to explain the sharp decline in arrests, which comes just one month after six police officers were indicted for their involvement in Freddie Gray’s death.

While the rate of arrests in Baltimore plummeted last month, the number of homicides did not. Instead, the city experienced its single bloodiest month in more than 40 years with a total of 43 homicides. The month of May saw more than 40 percent more murders relative to the previous year, and the rate nearly doubled the 22 homicides of the month prior. A total of nine murders occurred over a violent Memorial Day weekend, which also had nearly 30 shootings.

Last month’s raw homicide figures were the worst of any month in 40 years, and the third worst in Baltimore’s history. This is particularly shocking when looking back at the well-documented history of violence that made Baltimore one of the most violent cities in America for some time. August 1990 held the fourth bloodiest month in Baltimore history with 42 homicides, December 1971 takes second place with 44, and August 1972 tops the list with 45.

In terms of raw numbers, May saw fewer murders than December 1971 and August 1990, but when you adjust for changes in population the rate was actually much higher than any previous month. The murder rate last month was 6.9 murders per 100,000 residents, a stunning 38 percent higher than the rate in August 1972. This is because Baltimore housed roughly 280,000 more residents in 1972 than in 2015 according to Census data.

The chart below shows the adjusted murder rate for the four deadliest months in the Baltimore’s history as well as their total homicide counts.

Peter Moskos, a former Baltimore police officer and current professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice put these numbers in perspective in a recent blog post:

Even if no other people had been murdered in Baltimore before May, and even if no more people were killed from today until 2016, Baltimore would still have an above average annual homicide rate just based on the May killings.

In the first full month since the Freddie Gray protests two major changes have occurred in the city. Arrest rates have dropped by more than half, while homicides have risen by 40 percent. Antoinette Perrine, a Baltimore resident whose brother was recently gunned down near her home in West Baltimore told CBS Baltimore, “It’s so bad, people are afraid to let their kids outside… police used to sit on every corner, on the top of the block. These days? They’re nowhere.” It may be too early to tell, but a reduction in police activity might not be what is best for the city of Baltimore.

Kwame Apea

Kwame Apea is a member of the University of Maryland Class of 2016 and a Law Street Media Fellow for the Summer of 2015. Contact Kwame at staff@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post Baltimore After Freddie Gray: One of the Bloodiest Months in History appeared first on Law Street.

The United States found itself facing criticism from the international community in regards to concerns about its human rights record this week. The criticisms were levied during the U.S.’s second universal periodic review in front of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council. Listed among the concerns that other nations presented about the U.S.’s human rights record included the American failure to shut down the detention facilities at Guantanamo Bay and the prevalence of sexual violence against Native American women. But one of the biggest focal points of the criticism was the culture of police violence and militarization, particularly against young black men, in the United States.

This is no surprise–during the recent flurry of media activity over the protests in Baltimore after the death of Freddie Gray at the hands of the Baltimore police, I came across a Washington Post article that posited “How Western media would cover Baltimore if it happened somewhere else.” While the writer of that piece, Karen Attiah, certainly wasn’t the only one I saw pose that question, I found her take particularly compelling, as she wrote it from the point of view of another nation’s media outlet. Take this passage for example:

Black Americans, a minority ethnic group, are killed by state security forces at a rate higher than the white majority population. Young, black American males are 21 times more likely to be shot by police than white American males.

Sounds pretty bad when it’s phrased like that, doesn’t it?

The point is that if we, as Americans, saw coverage of the racial discrimination and police conduct in this country the way that we see coverage of human rights abuses in other nations, we would be appalled and outraged. Therefore, it was no surprise to me that we received some criticism at the United Nations review.

At the same time, it also didn’t surprise me that the response that many Americans had to the criticism has been less than graceful. The main complaints appear to be twofold–some are upset that we even allowed ourselves to be reviewed by the UNHRC, calling it “farcical.” In a very similar vein, there are complaints that during the United States’ presentation in front of the council, the Obama administration even admitted to having to work on some of the aforementioned issues. There was also anger over which nations criticized us, countries including Iran, Cuba, Pakistan, and Russia. Critics of the review have been very quick to point out that those nations have very long histories of horrible human rights abuses themselves.

That’s completely true. Human rights abuses in Iran, Cuba, Pakistan, and Russia, among many other nations, are apparent, horrendous, and deserve high levels of criticism and attention. But I don’t quite get how that fact invalidates concerns about human rights abuses in the United States. Two wrongs don’t make a right–just because another nation is committing a wrong, our wrong isn’t suddenly rendered right.

Moreover, what happened to being a good example? How can we demand that other nations be accountable for their human rights abuses when we can’t even talk about ours in an open forum with humility and respect? It’s not easy to admit that there’s a problem in this country when it comes to racism and police violence. But criticizing other countries for pointing it out certainly won’t do anything to fix it. Instead, we need to work together as a nation to combat these systemic problems, and become the very role model we purport to be.

—

Anneliese Mahoney

Anneliese Mahoney is Managing Editor at Law Street and a Connecticut transplant to Washington D.C. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and a passion for law, politics, and social issues. Contact Anneliese at amahoney@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post United Nations Criticizes U.S. Over These Human Rights Issues appeared first on Law Street.

Continuing protests over the death of Freddie Gray erupted into Ferguson-like riots yesterday evening following his funeral in Baltimore, Maryland, where cries of “black lives matter” have echoed since last year. But this time it was the city’s most notoriously violent groups who aligned for peace while groups of rioting Baltimoreans burned and looted the city against the Gray family’s wishes, even injuring officers and other protesters.

Incredibly powerful photos from the Baltimore riots http://t.co/Uex0La5QiY pic.twitter.com/x896Ubutme

— BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) April 28, 2015

Violent gang rivals the Crips and the Bloods–known for violent crime, drug dealing, and their murderous feud–issued a cease fire yesterday to form an unlikely alliance, condemning the violence that was sweeping through their community. According to CNN, Baltimore Sun reporter Justin Fenton wrote on his confirmed Twitter account that he witnessed gang members’ disapproval, writing:

The guys who pulled me aside are self-identifying as Crips and say they don’t approve of whats happening. “This is our community” — Justin Fenton (@justin_fenton) April 27, 2015

Gray sustained a deadly spinal cord injury sometime after being taken into police custody by Baltimore officers. An illegal switchblade knife was found on him after he reportedly “fled unprovoked.” Police have admitted that Gray should have received medical treatment immediately, but didn’t. Witnesses claim police had him “folded up like origami” on the street, but investigators are still in the process of recreating the events that led to Gray’s death.

According to CNN, members from both gangs joined community leaders and Gray’s family for a news conference Monday night on the stage at New Shiloh Baptist Church, which had held Gray’s funeral. At the news conference Reverend Jamal Bryant mentioned that the gangs had signed a peace treaty. Activists from the Nation of Islam claimed responsibility for the alliance, sharing approval for the demonstration of unity and telling reporters that they brokered a deal between the two enemies.

However, some members of the police force believe the gang partnership signaled ulterior motives. The Daily Beast is reporting that it obtained information from the Baltimore Police Department that  it had received a “credible threat” that gangs had formed the partnership “to take out law enforcement officers.”

While conflicting reports have the members being painted as either thugs or heroes, leaders from both gangs are currently reaching out to media outlets to share their reactions to the peace treaty and the riots. One photo has even surfaced showing several Crips members wearing blue bandannas over their faces posing next to a red-bandanna wearing Blood member while both groups throw up their respective gang signs.

It says a lot when things have gotten so bad in the city of Baltimore that rival gangs have allegedly laid down arms to support one another and their community. Additionally, many others have gotten involved in the calls for peace–including the creator of the violent Baltimore based gang drama “The Wire,” David Simon. Maryland’s Governor Larry Hogan has issued a state of emergency and a curfew has been issued in the city by Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake in an effort to regain order in the city. But as the dust begins to settle in the streets of Baltimore, its citizens are left to clean up the wreckage.

Alexis Evans

Alexis Evans is an Assistant Editor at Law Street and a Buckeye State native. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and a minor in Business from Ohio University. Contact Alexis at aevans@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post Crips and Bloods: Unlikely Allies in Baltimore Riots appeared first on Law Street.

Freddie Gray was a Baltimore man who died after injuries he received while in the custody of the Baltimore police department. Multiple protests, some violent, have occurred against Gray’s treatment that Gray received in police custody on April 19. Although exact numbers appear unknown, reports cite that 34 people have been arrested as a result of the protests.

Arrests last night in Baltimore during a protest of the death of #FreddieGrayhttp://t.co/j5mU7B7Jfjpic.twitter.com/5JcRDP2vtg

— Newsweek (@Newsweek) April 26, 2015

Demonstrators in Baltimore continue protesting #FreddieGray‘s death. PHOTOS: http://t.co/FvUWbmnHi4pic.twitter.com/Dh9LGIJFPf

— 99.1 WNEW (@WNEW) April 23, 2015

#UPDATE: Crowd continues to grow. Protestors want officers suspended in death of #FreddieGray arrested. pic.twitter.com/XVRtcIZP55

— WJZ | CBS Baltimore (@cbsbaltimore) April 21, 2015

Gray was arrested after he saw a police officer and then started running. Regardless of that not being a reason to arrest someone,  police caught up to him. At this point it was discovered that Gray had a knife on him, and was brought into police custody. He sustained a spinal cord injury at some point during this incident, and desperately needed medical attention. It’s not clear how he got the injury–although hopefully that will eventually become clear as a few different investigations delve into the events. The bigger issue here, however, is that once officers caught up to Gray and arrested him, they should have sought medical help for him. Their failure to do so appears to have directly led to Gray’s death. The Baltimore police have even admitted that they should have gotten medical help for Gray. According to CNN:

Police Commissioner Anthony Batts told reporters there are no excuses for the fact that Gray was not buckled in as he was transported to a police station.

It’s in light of this news that protesters have taken to the streets in Baltimore. Some are calling for the arrest of the six officers involved in Gray’s case–they have already been suspended without pay. Last night an estimated 1,200 people gathered in protest at City Hall in Baltimore. This caused some problems for the city–thousands of fans were trapped inside the Baltimore Orioles’ Stadium last night after the game. Unfortunately, as protests continued, things did grow violent. Looters damaged a local convenience store, and at one point a protester “tossed a flaming metal garbage can toward police officers in riot gear trying to push back the crowd.”

After the deaths of Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and Tamir Rice in 2014, and the recent death of Walter Scott, the United States is still dealing with discontent over police violence and the treatment of black men by police officers. While Baltimore PD admitting that it should have sought treatment for Gray sooner certainly can be viewed as a step in the right direction when it comes to accountability, what exactly happened to Gray still needs to be determined. Until then, there will almost certainly still be protests and critics.

Anneliese Mahoney

Anneliese Mahoney is Managing Editor at Law Street and a Connecticut transplant to Washington D.C. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and a passion for law, politics, and social issues. Contact Anneliese at amahoney@LawStreetMedia.com.

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