As thousands took to the streets in Baltimore on Monday night to protest the death of Freddie Gray on the day of his funeral, nearly 100 clergy joined the protesters.
Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old black male, died April 19 while in police custody, one week after his arrest. Although one of the officers reported Gray “was arrested without force or incident,” Gray died of severe spinal injury, prompting citizens to question how Gray was treated in custody.
Clergy members marched arm-in-arm with peaceful protesters — providing an example of how to seek justice.
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After Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan declared a state of emergency and activated the National Guard, Deborah Weiner of local Baltimore station WBAL-TV 11 reported the clergy’s response.
“There’s been a state of emergency way before tonight,” the clergy said. “An emergency of poverty, a lack of jobs, disenfranchisement from the political process.”
According to baltimoreuprising.org, a resource developed by Ferguson organizers Johnetta “Netta” Elzie and Deray Mckesson, multiple churches have been listed as safe harbor sites.
Three Baptist churches, Pleasant Hope Baptist Church, Northside Baptist Church, and St. Marks Institutional Baptist Church, as well as one Methodist church, Metropolitan United Methodist Church, are listed in the document.
Please join us in praying for the people of Baltimore.
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