Gov. Hogan: George Floyd's 'Senseless' Death Shows Americans Still Have 'Long Way To Go'
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) -- After a day of peaceful protesting in Baltimore ended with a clash between a small group of protesters and police, Gov. Larry Hogan tweeted that the city continues to be an example for the nation on how to protest for meaningful change.
He also acknowledged the country has some work to do to end systemic racism.
"The senseless murder of George Floyd and so many African Americans throughout our history shows we still have a long way to go to live up to our nation's highest ideals," Hogan tweeted. "But I'm proud that Baltimore is showing the nation how we can begin to build a more perfect union."
He thanked Baltimore Mayor Jack Young, Commissioner Michael Harrison, state and local police, the National Guard and the MTA as well as Baltimore residents and community leaders "who are showing the power of a strong, compassionate, and united community."
"Yesterday, Baltimore set an example for our nation," Hogan continued. "Thousands of young people and community leaders expressed their frustrations peacefully, while working with police to stand up to a handful of extremists with a violent agenda. This is how real, positive change happens."
Hogan said he thought Baltimore, "did better than any other city" and "set an example" for peaceful protests.
"I think we performed better than any city in America and I think we set another example for how you can really go out there and express you frustrations peacefully," Hogan said in an interview with The C4 Show.
The organizers simply known as "The Youth", told WJZ they quickly mobilized after Floyd's death to organize this event as a show of solidarity.
"We witnessed a powerful display of Democracy as more than a thousand people took to the streets of Baltimore without any major incidents," said Mayor Jack Young.
Thousands gathered Monday to protest police brutality, systemic racism and to mark injustices against black Americans. The youth-led protest started with hundreds of people near the Baltimore Convention Center around 4 p.m. and swelled to thousands outside City Hall.
Protesters chanted and spoke the names of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and others who lost their lives senselessly.
At one point, some Baltimore police officers took a knee to show solidarity with the protesters.
But around 10:30 p.m., as the group dwindled in size, tensions began to rise as police tried to disperse crowds in riot gear.
It stemmed from reports that some were throwing fireworks and water bottles at the line of officers and protesters. Maryland State Police was called in to help.
"They were pointing out the people who had the stuff and dragging them over to police and saying arrest them," Hogan said.
According to police, the person who was arrested for allegedly setting off fireworks does not live in the city.
Police tried several tactics to get the crowd to disperse, but around 2 a.m. they threatened to arrest anyone remaining.
At least six people were arrested in total Monday.
For full coverage of the George Floyd unrest in Minneapolis, go to CBS Minnesota.
