Maryland Governor Larry Hogan said in a news conference Tuesday evening that 2,000 National Guardsmen would be dispatched throughout Baltimore, hours before a citywide curfew was set to go into effect, as officials aimed to prevent similar instances of looting and arson that erupted the day earlier following the funeral for Freddie Gray.
Hogan said more than 1,000 law enforcement officers would also be on hand, brought in from neighboring states like Pennsylvania and New Jersey, as well as from around Maryland and the District of Columbia.
“This combined force will not tolerate violence or looting,” he said, “which has led to the destruction of property and put innocent Marylanders at risk.”
That news conference came minutes after Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake defended her city’s response to the riots that erupted Monday and continued overnight. Officials said the incidents that later turned violent Monday were begun by youths who had gathered in West Baltimore.
“It wasn’t allowing rioters to loot and to burn down,” she said, in an interview that aired on CNN, noting that she and her team worked for hours on Monday to coordinate a response that was “appropriate” and wouldn’t make matters worse.”It was making sure we had an appropriate response to what was going on, and we swiftly moved in.”
Protests that had been peaceful days earlier turned violent following the funeral. At least 20 police officers were injured Monday as rioters set fire to buildings and looted local businesses. Police had made 235 arrests by Tuesday evening, including more than 30 juveniles, Rawlings-Blake said in an interview with CNN.
A citywide curfew announced yesterday goes into effect, from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., and will last one week.
Baltimore has been on edge since video emerged of Gray being dragged by officers to a police vehicle on April 12. Gray died a week later of a spinal injury sustained while in custody and was buried on Monday. The death of Gray is the latest in a series of high profile incidents that have fueled an ongoing national debate about police practices, especially when directed toward black people.
See the Clashes in Baltimore After Freddie Gray's Funeral
A rioter stands atop a burning car as another man pours fuel onto the fire while Baltimore firefighters behind them fight fires in multiple burning buildings set ablaze by rioters during clashes in Baltimore on April 27, 2015.Jim Bourg—ReutersFirefighters battle a blaze after riots in Baltimore on April 27, 2015.Jerry Jackson—TNS /LandovTwo cars burn in the middle of an intersection during riots near New Shiloh Baptist Church in Baltimore on April 27, 2015.Andrew Burton—Getty ImagesProtestors and pedestrians walk down Pennsylvania Avenue as smoke from a nearby CVS on fire covers the area in Baltimore on April 27, 2015. Noah Scialom—EPAA demonstrator raises his fist as police stand in formation as a store burns during unrest following the funeral of Freddie Gray in Baltimore on Monday, April 27, 2015.Patrick Semansky—APDemonstrators climb on a destroyed Baltimore Police car in the street near the corner of Pennsylvania and North avenues during violent protests following the funeral of Freddie Gray in Baltimore on April 27, 2015.Chip Somodevilla—Getty ImagesPolice carry an injured officer from the streets near Mondawmin Mall in Baltimore on April 27, 2015.Brendan Smialowski—AFP/Getty ImagesA demonstrator looks up after being sprayed with pepper spray during clashes in Baltimore on April 27, 2015.Shannon Stapleton—ReutersA man walks past a burning police vehicle in Baltimore on April 27, 2015.Patrick Semansky—APPolice put out a fire while responding to people protesting after the funeral of Freddie Gray in Baltimore on April 27, 2015. Michael Reynolds—EPAPolice officers arrest a man near Mondawmin Mall in Baltimore on April 27, 2015.Drew Angerer—Getty ImagesPolice officers use pepper spray against demonstrators after the funeral of Freddie Gray in Baltimore on April 27, 2015.Jose Luis Magana—APBaltimore police officers tackle and arrest looters after they emerged from a "Deals" store with merchandise during clashes between rioters and police in Baltimore on April 27, 2015.Jim Bourg—ReutersA protestor unrolls police caution tape on North Avenue and Fulton Street during a protest for the death of Freddie Gray in Baltimore on April 27, 2015. Noah Scialom—EPAA man hurls a rock at Baltimore police officers outside the Mondawmin Mall following the funeral of Freddie Gray in Baltimore on April 27, 2015.Chip Somodevilla—Getty ImagesPolice officers walk in formation on Reisterstown Road near Mondawmin Mall in Baltimore on April 27, 2015 .Drew Angerer—Getty ImagesBaltimore police officers form a line in front of protesters near Mondawmin Mall in Baltimore on April 27, 2015.Brendan Smialowski—AFP/Getty ImagesA woman cries as demonstrators throw rocks at police officers during clashes in Baltimore on April 27, 2015.Shannon Stapleton—ReutersProtesters surround a police officer near Mondawmin Mall in Baltimore on April 27, 2015.Drew Angerer—Getty ImagesFriends and relatives say their last goodbyes to Freddie Gray as his casket is lowered into his grave at the Woodland Cemetery in Baltimore on April 27, 2015.Chip Somodevilla—Getty ImagesA pillow depicts the image of Freddie Gray inside his open casket during the funeral at New Shiloh Baptist Church in Baltimore on April 27, 2015. Michael Reynolds—EPAGloria Darden, mother of Freddie Gray, is comforted as she embraces his body before his funeral at New Shiloh Baptist Church in Baltimore on April 27, 2015.Patrick Semansky—APGloria Darden, mother of Freddie Gray, is embraced before her son's funeral at New Shiloh Baptist Church in Baltimore on April 27, 2015.Brendan Smialowski—AFP/Getty Images
