The Wire Cast Gives Back to Baltimore
With everything that's happened in Baltimore this year, The Wire is as relevant a show as ever. The cast of the acclaimed HBO drama, which ran from 2002 until 2008, reunited in the show's Maryland home over the weekend for an important purpose: to put a much-needed spotlight on the people who are living the experiences they portrayed for six years.
Michael K. Williams (Omar Little), Sonja Sohn (Det. Shakima “Kima” Greggs), Andre Royo (“Bubbles” Cousins), Larry Gilliard Jr. (D’Angelo Barksdale), and Felicia “Snoop” Pearson (Snoop) were among those on hand Saturday for “Wired Up! A Celebration of the Spirit + Power of the People of Baltimore,” an event featuring the actors reading monologues written by West Baltimore residents that came together during a two-day workshop. According to the website, the event aimed to recognize “the ‘unsung heroes’ of Baltimore — those who serve inside and amongst the community, tirelessly and selflessly.”
The monologues, the Baltimore Sun reports, focused on April's Baltimore Uprising and the aftermath of the death of Freddie Gray, who died while in police custody. “We can’t wait for more people to die,” Sohn told the audience. “We can’t wait for any more Black men to die at the hands of police officers who were acting irresponsibly. That’s why we put this event together. We’re actors, and what we can do is to build a platform to raise voices that need to be heard.”
Williams reflected on the time he spent filming The Wire in Baltimore, and the debt he owes to the city. “I feel that it is my responsibility to use whatever platform I’ve got to shine light on the people and the problems they face,” he said. “In the eight years I was here, I saw a lot of positives. I saw a lot of potential. And, I saw a whole lot of passion.”
Rewind! Watch BET News Special: LOUD: The Power of Baltimore Uprising in the video below.
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(Photo via wiredup.splashthat.com)
