Freddie Gray Protest by Jessie Branch

            On Wednesday, April 29, I attended a march in support of protestors in Baltimore. Our cause was fighting the unjustifiable murder of Freddie Gray, along with all of the unarmed black men whose lives have been taken at the hand of the law. Some police use excessive force on citizens (especially citizens of color) and it has been coming to light more and more, with help from social media. Police must be held accountable, and be shown that no one is above the law--murder is murder, regardless of whether you carry a badge or not.

            We gathered in Union Square with signs and our voices. Our numbers were well over 1000; individuals of all races and creeds. Speakers' voices carried over the various chants, and of course there was a massive police presence; in fact they had placed barriers around the entirety of the square, save one opening on each corner for pedestrian traffic.

            It felt amazing to be an ally, to witness, and to take a stand against a racist system. I have witnessed too many friends made into victims of the law unjustly. Many of them were accosted by police for things like j walking, illegally searched, and placed under arrest. One was beaten by a group of 5 police for "resisting arrest" while handcuffed, so badly that upon his arrival to jail the warden had to take him to Harborview Medical Center for treatment. I feel very strongly about equal rights for all humans and I have witnessed the ways in which police can treat citizens unfairly.

            The protest itself was peaceful until police began blocking off streets on which marchers had already begun walking. After being threatened by tear gas and rubber bullets, some women and children in the front began backtracking and warning individuals behind them of the danger that lied ahead. Eventually the marchers were corralled into one block, at which time the police forcefully placed barricades on each corner, dividing the protestors. Some protestors were abrasively knocked down during the barricading, and I could immediately sense tension rising. A few individuals began shouting, and some arrests began to occur. It was at this point that I left because it seemed as though the protest was ending. In reality, it would go until 1AM, gaining steam as marchers made their way to Times Square.

            We made our voices heard and gave the world and police no other option than to listen to our cries for justice. The prosecutor in Baltimore is charging all six police officers involved in the death of Freddie Gray; whether or not those charges go through has yet to be determined but the fact that they are being charged is a huge step in the right direction. There have been too many people murdered over misdemeanors and that is absolutely terrifying. Due process must be upheld and we must show police that they cannot simply use fatal force against unarmed black citizens.