Baltimore Mayor: 'We Will Find Out What Happened To Mr. Gray'
BALTIMORE (WJZ)-- Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake is being tested like never before --as Baltimore has become ground zero for the nation's furor over the death of Freddie Gray.
Immediately after her press conference late Friday afternoon the mayor sat down with Mary Bubala to talk more in-depth about the issues surrounding the death of Freddie Gray and the national firestorm it's ignited.
Bubala: "What worries you the most at this moment?"
Rawlings-Blake: "What worries me is that while we have a very strong tradition of peaceful protest in Baltimore that with outside influences there may be things that are uncharacteristic and unwelcome."
Bubala: "Do you still think commissioner Batts should be at the helm of the Baltimore Police Department?"
Rawlings-Blake: "We are in the midst of a very tragic incident and responding to that incident, but if we are going to judge his performance it doesn't make a lot of sense to base it on this one incident without looking also at the performance up to this point."
Bubala: "So you have confidence in him?"
Rawlings-Blake: "Absolutely."
Bubala: "When the results of the investigation finally do come out and the smoke clears as they say and the national media leaves,-- Baltimore City will still be left with a community that thinks there is deep seated racism and police brutality issues, how are you going to address that?"
Rawlings-Blake: "I have gone to every single police district and had meetings with the community about how we can work better together as a community for our joint interest."
Bubala: "On the eve of what could be a potentially large protest at city hall what do you want to say the people here at home and those who may be coming to our city."
Rawlings-Blake: "To the residents of Baltimore I would just say there will be no stone unturned in this investigation. We will find out what happened to Mr. Gray and we will find out in a way that respects the process and allows us to have justice and not just seek justice. To those individuals who have been attracted to Baltimore by this spotlight that is on us I would say that you are certainly welcome in Baltimore you are welcome to help us, not to hurt us."
Mayor Rawlings-Blake plans to attend Freddie Gray's funeral on Monday. She continues to reach out to them, but so far their attorney has not let the two come together.