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Occupation of Baltimore City Hall demands police accountability

By Michael Sampson

Baltimore, MD – On the night of Oct. 14, over 50 Black youth protesters stormed Baltimore City Hall, demanding police accountability. The group, known as the Baltimore Bloc, which has organized rallies around the Baltimore uprisings, chanted, “Stop the vote, stop the vote!” along with “All night, all day, we gonna fight for Freddie Gray,” interrupting proceedings.

This protest came in light of a Baltimore City Council subcommittee vote to give interim City Police Commissioner Keith Davis a permanent title without community input – or significant overhauls in Baltimore policing since the murder of Freddie Grey earlier this year by Baltimore police officers. Protesters also called for an end to police militarization in Baltimore as well as proper education funding for Baltimore community schools, to be decided by the Baltimore community.

At around 5:00 a.m. Oc. 15, police arrested at least 12 youth and student protesters on trespassing charges. Protesters had demanded a meeting with Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.

Organizers for Baltimore Bloc are urging the public to call the Baltimore city jail at 443-263-8706 and 410-545-8122 demanding the release of the black youth protesters and their supporters.

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