Protesters sit-in at Baltimore's City
Hall, angry over use of police force
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[October 15, 2015]
By Donna Owens
BALTIMORE (Reuters) - Demonstrators angry
about the use of police force took over parts of Baltimore's City Hall
and remained there into the early house of Thursday, police said.
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The group had earlier interrupted City proceedings about whether
to give Baltimore's interim police commissioner Kevin Davis a
permanent job as the city's top cop.
About three dozen protesters, some of whom were identified as
members of Baltimore City Bloc, a grass roots activist group of high
school students, remained holed up in the building after midnight.
"The protest remains non-violent," said T.J. Smith, a police
spokesman. "Approximately 35 protesters are still in the balcony
area of City Hall. No arrests have been made."
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2015/Oct/15/images/ads/current/napa_bch1-3108.png) The protesters had earlier attended a city council subcommittee
hearing that was considering a request by Mayor Stephanie
Rawlings-Blake to approve Davis as the city's permanent top officer.
Davis was appointed to the temporary post in July after the previous
commissioner, Anthony Batts, was fired amid a skyrocketing murder
rate and days of racially-fueled protests in April that followed the
death of an unarmed black man in police custody.
Six officers have been charged with Freddie Gray's death and face
upcoming trials.
Some of the demonstrators said they believe police have shown
heightened aggression when dealing with protesters since Davis took
command.
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During Wednesday's appropriations committee meeting, protesters
chanted loudly and attempted to shout over council members who voted
to confirm Davis as the city's new commissioner.
The full city council could vote on his appointment as early as
Monday.
Davis told protesters he would meet with them and hear their
concerns.
(Editing by Michael Perry and Victoria Cavaliere/Jeremy Gaunt)
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