On April 12, 2015, a 25-year-old man named Freddie Grey was arrested for possession of a switchblade. While being transported to the police station, Grey fell into a coma. After further medical attention, it was discovered that Grey had major trauma to the spinal cord and larynx. Seven days after his arrest, Freddie Grey died from the extent of his injuries.

Following his tragic death, people began to question just why Freddie Grey died. One can’t simply sever their own neck, fracture three of their own vertebrae, and crush their own larynx. Something must have happened to Grey for him to have suffered this many severe injuries. After further investigation, eyewitnesses said they saw police officers use excessive force while arresting Grey. Commissioner Anthony Batts reported that the police officers that found Freddie Grey with a switchblade had failed to provide medical attention in the amount of time that would have been necessary to save his life. They also failed to buckle him into the car while transporting him to the police station.

The people of Baltimore became angered over these accusations, which they believed to be true. Civil unrest began during a protest held on April 25. Protesters threw rocks at police officers and set fire to properties. Several businesses were looted then burned to the ground. During this first wave of riots, it is believed that 34 arrests were made and 9 law enforcement officers were injured.

In order to keep the citizens and visitors of Baltimore safe, the Orioles have postponed their game against the White Sox. A curfew has been set for the city, starting at 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. Schools around Baltimore are closed until further notice, and all school trips have been postponed until mid-May. The National Guard has deployed a mass amount of soldiers to protect the people of Baltimore.

Five days after the first riot, Baltimore resident Gordana Utzschneider said, “As devastating as looting and rioting has been on Monday, many more people came together to clean up, provide lunches and protest in peace, which restored my optimism for the city. Police brutality and economic inequality are real problems, not only in Baltimore, but also across the country. I am hopeful that we are now going to address these issues.”

In response to the riots, President Obama has issued a statement, saying, “There’s no excuse for the kind of violence that we saw yesterday. It is counterproductive. When individuals get crowbars and start prying open doors to loot, they’re not protesting. They’re not making a statement. They’re stealing. When they burn down a building, they’re committing arson. They’re destroying and undermining businesses and opportunities in their own communities, which robs jobs and opportunity from people in that area.” Obama praised those who have attempted to keep the peace during this time of unrest.