If anyone tells you that they expected today’s turn of events in the Freddy Gray’s saga currently unfolding in Baltimore, they are lying.
When news broke that the state top prosecutor had received the police reports of the incidents leading to the death of the 25 year old Black youth while in police custody, the prevailing expectations was that the next step of the investigation would drag on for at least another few weeks.
In fact, most of Gray’s supporters in Baltimore and in city’s across the US and around the world were preparing to continue their street protest as a way of letting prosecutors know that they should make haste with this investigation.
Then came Ms. Marilyn J. Mosby, State Attorney for the City of Baltimore. Normally she would be the announcing the stalling tactics before all the police officers would eventually walk free.
But there’s nothing normal about Mrs. Mosby. At 35, she is the youngest to hold the position of State Attorney in any major American city and hers is a stated commitment to seek justice for victims of police brutality.
She made it clear to all when she ran for the position, late last year: “Police brutality is completely inexcusable. I’m going to apply
justice fairly, even to those who wear a badge,” she was quoted as saying.
Well, four months in the job and this file landed on her desk and the eyes of the world was staring at her
And just as she promised she went to work in the name of justice. either to begin the process of exonerating the officers or holding some accountable for the death of Freddy Gray.
At 10:30 AM on May Day 2015 she stood in front of 100 media people and announced to the world that her office had conducted an extensive investigation and has enough evidence to charge six Baltimore police offers with the death of Freddy Gray.
The charges ranged from second-degree “depraved heart” murder to involuntary manslaughter, misconduct in office, false imprisonment and assault.
The “depraved heart charge is interpreted as “killing someone in a way that demonstrates a callous disregard for the value of human life.”
The most grievous of the charges carry a 20-year sentence.
Mrs. Mosby made it clear that her decision is not an indictment against all police officers, pointing out that she comes from five generations of police officers including her mother and father and several uncles.
Her message to the people of Baltimore and beyond, was just as pointed “To the people of Baltimore and the demonstrators across America: I heard your call for no justice, no peace. Your peace is sincerely needed as I work to deliver justice on behalf of this young man.”
By early afternoon, Baltimore mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake had called for the suspension of the officers and by 5:30 PM five of the six officers were booked.
1 Comment
David P May 2, 2015 at 3:37 pm
I am very proud of Marilyn G Mosby. She was on the case from day one.