'No justice, no peace, no racist police' chants in Baltimore

J.R. White, right, takes a selfie in front of a mural that was painted at the site of Freddie Gray's arrest, Saturday, May 2, 2015, in Baltimore, as protesters prepare to march to City Hall. Six police officers were charged Friday with felonies ranging from assault to murder in Gray's death. In announcing the charges, State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby said police had no reason to stop or chase Gray in the first place when they confronted him on April 12. He died of injuries on April 19.
J.R. White, right, takes a selfie in front of a mural that was painted at the site of Freddie Gray's arrest, Saturday, May 2, 2015, in Baltimore, as protesters prepare to march to City Hall. Six police officers were charged Friday with felonies ranging from assault to murder in Gray's death. In announcing the charges, State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby said police had no reason to stop or chase Gray in the first place when they confronted him on April 12. He died of injuries on April 19.

BALTIMORE — Chants of "no justice, no peace, no racist police" echoed through the streets of Baltimore Saturday during a march that organizers billed as a "victory rally" a day after a prosecutor charged six officers involved in the arrest of a man who died in police custody.

State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby on Friday charged the six with felonies ranging from assault to murder in the death of Freddie Gray. He died from spinal injuries a week after his April 12 arrest. It provoked riots on the streets of West Baltimore and quickly became a rallying cry against police brutality and social inequality in the city and elsewhere.

The planned march was to be a mass protest of Gray's treatment by police, but after Mosby's announcement, the tone had changed to more celebratory.

Shortly after noon at Gilmor Homes, a group of demonstrators, both black and white, young and older, congregated.

"Are you ready to march for justice?" Kwame Rose, 20, of Baltimore, said. The crowded chanted, "Yes."

"Are you all ready to march for peace?" Rose asked. "Yeah," the group answered.

Black Lawyers for Justice was expecting at least 10,000 people to show up downtown. Smaller groups of what looked to be several hundred gathered all around Baltimore and made their way through the streets to join the thousands at the main rally at City Hall.

They carried homemade signs, calling for peace, as well as printed ones asking for justice. Others wore T-shirts that read, "Black Lives Matter."

Rashid Wiggins of Upton was selling $10 shirts with the slogan, with "I matter" in red.

He said it surprised him that charges were filed quickly and that he hopes it sends a message to other officers to ensure that when someone in police custody asks for medical help, they get it.

"I just want them to be a little more careful," he said.

Near a CVS store that was looted and burned earlier in the week, groups of policemen stood on corners and a police helicopter flew overhead. Some officers twirled wooden batons idly. Someone had used chalk to draw a peace sign and write "Freddie Gray" on the brick face of the store. Hearts and dollar signs had been drawn on the store's boarded up windows.

Upcoming Events