Women celebrate, share their stories in Baltimore

By Brandy Bond | Last updated: May 5, 2015 - 10:48:28 AM

Photos: Richard B. Muhammad

BALTIMORE - At what many would call “The Victory Rally” spirits were high. It was a joyous block party like environment after the indictment of six city police officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old, whose spine was nearly severed from his body in an encounter with police officers.

The queens of the Black community were especially proud, dancing and holding their heads a little bit higher, feeling encouraged that the brutal murder of their husbands, sons, brothers and cousins could be punished.

They thanked a courageous young Black woman, State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby, who at a May 1 press conference announced the charges. “I heard your words, no justice, no peace,” said the 35-year-old Mosby, who laid out specific charges against each officer.

She shocked many by quickly charging the officers, saying her office had been engaged in its own investigation and asked the sheriff’s department for help alongside the Baltimore City Police Dept. probe of the fatal encounter.

Women of all ages agreed Ms. Mosby did the right thing. Most also seemed to agree with and support 42-year-old mother Toya Graham, a single mother of six. She caught her 16-year-old son throwing rocks at police during unrest days earlier. She pulled him, slapped him and pushed him to go home. Video of the incident went viral. That same day the area near Pennsylvania Avenue and North Avenue exploded. Several stores were raided and looted, police vehicles and other cars set on fire and rocks and bricks thrown at police. Even a fire hose used to put out a burning CVS drugstore was slashed to let the building burn.

But Saturday, May 2, was a day for peace and celebration with music and dancing in the streets just yards away from the burned out store. Hugs and greetings exchanged up and down the street. Free food, water and clothing was distributed.

Taliah Monroe felt it was right for the mother to discipline her son “before he ended up dead or in prison.”

She was also proud of the fearless young men who rose up and expressed outrage at an unjust system and oppressive police department.

“If those boys wouldn’t have done what they did those officers would have never got arrested,” she said.

Ms. Monroe expressed frustrations with elected officials, saying they only care about votes, not about people. She spoke of being personally touched by police violence. Her brother, she said, was killed by a city police officer.

Other women were somewhat ashamed of the looting and torching of the pharmacy, which sits in the shadow of a senior citizen building. Twenty-five-year-old Rihanna, a lifelong resident of Baltimore, felt the actions of Black youth were uncalled for and embarrassing. “That CVS was a place that lots of old people went to for their medicine,” she said.

Women also felt the frustration of young people involved in the unrest and the looting. Without those young “thugs” as they were called by Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, who apologized for labeling all young people involved, would anything have been done and would anyone have paid attention to pain and deprivation in the city? they asked.

Kellaysa Knight, and other women, told graphic horror stories of interactions with police that included being beaten. According to Ms. Knight, she was beaten and then confined to a mental hospital until her bruises healed. Police officers refused to acknowledge the incident, take a report, or admit anything happened, she said.

The women, however, took great joy and pride in the action of State’s Attorney Mosby for helping to protect them and their loved ones.

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