Mayor of Baltimore Is Unclear on Protesters' Demands
Baltimore mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said Thursday evening that she is unclear of the demands of a group of protesters who were sitting in at Baltimore's city hall. There were 16 arrests made Thursday morning. The demonstrations were in response to the nomination of interim police commissioner Kevin Davis to be made permanent.
The group, ages 16 to 38, wanted to have a conversation about several issues with the mayor and the commissioner about their rights as demonstrators and future investments in city schools.
Meanwhile, recommendations to reform Baltimore's police department were released by the Center for American Progress and the Campaign for Justice, Safety, and Jobs Friday. The six-point plan includes firing "police officers who have demonstrated corruption or unnecessary violence" and ensuring "that every police officer is trained in de-escalation techniques."
“For too long, police in Baltimore have been able to act with impunity,” said Ben Jealous, senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, in a statement. “With the national spotlight on Baltimore, the city’s elected and appointed officials need to respond to the long-standing demands of the community.”
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(Photo: Andrew Burton/Getty Images)
