
National Day of Action in Solidarity with Baltimore
(Poster)
To donate by check, phone, or other method, see our More Ways to Give page.
National Day of Action in Solidarity with Baltimore
Fueled by the announcement on Friday that six police officers would be charged for their role in the tragic death of 25-year-old Freddie Gray, activists are holding a national day of protest on Saturday to amplify the growing call for racial justice and end to police brutality against people of color.
"#BlackSpring has begun," event flyers announced. Last week, in the wake of Gray's death and the local protests and police crackdown that followed, solidarity demonstrations began springing up in cities across the country, with many more expected for the weekend.
On Saturday, demonstrations are planned for over 25 cities, including: Boulder, Colorado; Dallas and Houston, Texas; Cleveland, Toledo, and Columbus, Ohio; Fayetteville, Arkansas; Wilmington and Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Albany and New York City, New York; Knoxville, Tennessee; St. Louis, Missouri; Orlando and Tampa, Florida; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Atlanta, Georgia; Louisville and Lexington, Kentucky; Providence, Rhode Island; Boston, Massachusetts; Richmond, Virginia; Los Angeles, California; Harrisburg and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Toronto, Ontario in Canada.
And in Baltimore, protesters will march from the Gilmore Homes housing projects where Gray was arrested and end with a massive rally at City Hall.
"This is not a Baltimore issue. This is an American issue," Atlanta resident James Camper, who drove ten hours to participate in the Baltimore rally, told Washington Post reporter Justin Jouvenal.
While some reports say that the day of action is being dubbed a "victory rally" after news that local police officers are being charged for Gray's death, others say that the one instance of accountability does not erase the countless examples of discrimination and harm with impunity against Black communities.
"The war on Black people in Baltimore is the same war on Black people across America," declares grassroots organizers Ferguson Action. "Decades of poverty, unemployment, under-funded schools and police terrorism have reached a boiling point in Baltimore and cities around the country."
Organizers say that after the meager reforms--including the promise of more police body cameras--that came following the protests last fall, communities are calling for real, structural change. Their demands, they say, "speak to a world where all Black Lives Matter."
Images and updates from Saturday's demonstrations are being shared on Twitter.
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Fueled by the announcement on Friday that six police officers would be charged for their role in the tragic death of 25-year-old Freddie Gray, activists are holding a national day of protest on Saturday to amplify the growing call for racial justice and end to police brutality against people of color.
"#BlackSpring has begun," event flyers announced. Last week, in the wake of Gray's death and the local protests and police crackdown that followed, solidarity demonstrations began springing up in cities across the country, with many more expected for the weekend.
On Saturday, demonstrations are planned for over 25 cities, including: Boulder, Colorado; Dallas and Houston, Texas; Cleveland, Toledo, and Columbus, Ohio; Fayetteville, Arkansas; Wilmington and Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Albany and New York City, New York; Knoxville, Tennessee; St. Louis, Missouri; Orlando and Tampa, Florida; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Atlanta, Georgia; Louisville and Lexington, Kentucky; Providence, Rhode Island; Boston, Massachusetts; Richmond, Virginia; Los Angeles, California; Harrisburg and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Toronto, Ontario in Canada.
And in Baltimore, protesters will march from the Gilmore Homes housing projects where Gray was arrested and end with a massive rally at City Hall.
"This is not a Baltimore issue. This is an American issue," Atlanta resident James Camper, who drove ten hours to participate in the Baltimore rally, told Washington Post reporter Justin Jouvenal.
While some reports say that the day of action is being dubbed a "victory rally" after news that local police officers are being charged for Gray's death, others say that the one instance of accountability does not erase the countless examples of discrimination and harm with impunity against Black communities.
"The war on Black people in Baltimore is the same war on Black people across America," declares grassroots organizers Ferguson Action. "Decades of poverty, unemployment, under-funded schools and police terrorism have reached a boiling point in Baltimore and cities around the country."
Organizers say that after the meager reforms--including the promise of more police body cameras--that came following the protests last fall, communities are calling for real, structural change. Their demands, they say, "speak to a world where all Black Lives Matter."
Images and updates from Saturday's demonstrations are being shared on Twitter.
Fueled by the announcement on Friday that six police officers would be charged for their role in the tragic death of 25-year-old Freddie Gray, activists are holding a national day of protest on Saturday to amplify the growing call for racial justice and end to police brutality against people of color.
"#BlackSpring has begun," event flyers announced. Last week, in the wake of Gray's death and the local protests and police crackdown that followed, solidarity demonstrations began springing up in cities across the country, with many more expected for the weekend.
On Saturday, demonstrations are planned for over 25 cities, including: Boulder, Colorado; Dallas and Houston, Texas; Cleveland, Toledo, and Columbus, Ohio; Fayetteville, Arkansas; Wilmington and Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Albany and New York City, New York; Knoxville, Tennessee; St. Louis, Missouri; Orlando and Tampa, Florida; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Atlanta, Georgia; Louisville and Lexington, Kentucky; Providence, Rhode Island; Boston, Massachusetts; Richmond, Virginia; Los Angeles, California; Harrisburg and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Toronto, Ontario in Canada.
And in Baltimore, protesters will march from the Gilmore Homes housing projects where Gray was arrested and end with a massive rally at City Hall.
"This is not a Baltimore issue. This is an American issue," Atlanta resident James Camper, who drove ten hours to participate in the Baltimore rally, told Washington Post reporter Justin Jouvenal.
While some reports say that the day of action is being dubbed a "victory rally" after news that local police officers are being charged for Gray's death, others say that the one instance of accountability does not erase the countless examples of discrimination and harm with impunity against Black communities.
"The war on Black people in Baltimore is the same war on Black people across America," declares grassroots organizers Ferguson Action. "Decades of poverty, unemployment, under-funded schools and police terrorism have reached a boiling point in Baltimore and cities around the country."
Organizers say that after the meager reforms--including the promise of more police body cameras--that came following the protests last fall, communities are calling for real, structural change. Their demands, they say, "speak to a world where all Black Lives Matter."
Images and updates from Saturday's demonstrations are being shared on Twitter.