Nicole Raz
WMAL
WASHINGTON (WMAL) — Six Baltimore police officers charged with killing Freddie Gray are headed into court today for a pre-trial hearing. Outside the courthouse protesters and police will meet again.
Sharon Black with the Baltimore People’s Power Assembly says it will be a peaceful protest–on their part.
“We’re confident in ourselves. We’re not confident in the police department, especially if they try to provoke things,” Black told WMAL.
Protesters are there to seek justice; not to cause trouble.
“A couple of things that we’re demanding is that there be no dropping of any of the charges, that there be no change of venue–though we understand the hearing for that is on Sept. 10–and that [Baltimore State’s Attorney] Marilyn Mosby not be removed from this case.”
Baltimore Police will be keeping their eye on the protesters. Though they aren’t anticipating any violence, they’re prepared for anything, said spokesman TJ Smith.
“We’ve had a number of [peaceful] protects since April, and we don’t expect anything different than that,” Smith told WMAL. “People have the right to protest and we’re going to treat a protest like a protest, and treat a riot like a riot.”
Baltimore Police canceled all officer leave on Monday to ensure that they have all hands on deck if they’re needed. Black said the move is rubbing protesters the wrong way.
“Did they have to be prepared in this way? Did they have to ramp it up? Why are they doing that? If justice is going to be done then there’s no sense in doing this,” she said.
Smith said the decision was made out of an “abundance of caution.”
“We’re just operating with hindsight on our side,” he said.
Police expect most protesters to be peaceful, Smith said, but there are always a few trouble makers.
“We’re hoping that the protesters themselves help us keep that type of element out.”
Copyright 2015 by WMAL.com. All Rights Reserved. (PHOTO: CNN)
