"The Wire" creator David Simon calls for end to Baltimore riots

The man who created HBO's hit series "The Wire" is calling for an end to the recent violence in the city where the show takes place.

Author, TV writer/producer and former Baltimore Sun reporter David Simon took to his blog Monday to call for peace in the wake of riots and looting that happened in Baltimore on Monday stemming from the death of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old black man who died in police custody earlier this month.

"The anger and the selfishness and the brutality of those claiming the right to violence in Freddie Gray's name needs to cease," Simon wrote. "There was real power and potential in the peaceful protests that spoke in Mr. Gray's name initially, and there was real unity at his homegoing today. But this, now, in the streets, is an affront to that man's memory and a dimunition of the absolute moral lesson that underlies his unnecessary death."

He added, "If you can't seek redress and demand reform without a brick in your hand, you risk losing this moment for all of us in Baltimore. Turn around. Go home. Please."

"The Wire" was set in Baltimore and focused on the police force and drug trade in the city. The crime drama ran on HBO for five seasons, from 2002-2008.

Simon isn't the only person from "The Wire" to speak out. Wendell Pierce (Detective William "Bunk" Moreland) and Andre Royo (Reginald "Bubbles" Cousins) both addressed the violence on Twitter.

In:
• Freddie Gray