Freddie Gray Rallies Continue Monday
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The sprawling protests that packed the quad at City Hall have tapered out but some smaller groups are still holding rallies there.
Amy Yensi has more.
The college students say it's important to keep their message alive and at the forefront, even as the city and the country try to get back to normal.
It's smaller than the gatherings of late in front of City Hall but the message and urgency are just the same.
"We have an issue with some inequities that are going on," said one protester.
Dozens of students from each of Maryland's historically black colleges and universities and Howard University in Washington gathered at War Memorial Plaza in a show of unity with Baltimore and the family of Freddie Gray.
"We have a duty to represent, to localize and to mobilize and to sound the alarm for justice and for equality and for peace," said Dawaine Cosey.
The peaceful rally broke out in song, a prayer circle for peace and march for justice.
Students say they understand Freddie Gray is the catalyst for these rallies but they say he represents a slew of problems that have lingered and persisted in their communities for decades.
"This is nationwide. This is not just Baltimore; it's not just Ferguson," said student Morgan Vice.
"Bias because of where I'm from, bias because of a lack of resource, bias because of what I look like," said Cosey.
Morgan State University president David Wilson says he's encouraged to see his students taking part in the protests and cleanup. He says this generation has the opportunity to build on the legacy of peaceful protest.
"I'm really excited to see that our students understand that and they're here standing up for justice," he said.
In addition to rallying, university leaders say they'll continue to encourage the involvement of students in the community.
