Baltimore: Thousands of people were set to hit the Baltimore streets in fresh large-scale demonstrations on Saturday, a day after six police officers were charged over the death of an African-American man in their custody.
As many as 10,000 people were set to turn out for a massive rally in the riot-scarred city, CBS Baltimore reported, in what could be the biggest show of people power yet in nearly a week of demonstrations that threaten to spread across the United States.
The Maryland National Guard said on Twitter it had nearly 3,000 soldiers and airmen ready to help "keep the peace" in the city.
Police made at least 15 arrests when some protesters defied a 10:00 pm curfew Friday, underlining the anger that persists on the street despite the shock announcement that the six officers -- three of them black -- would face a range of charges, including second-degree murder and manslaughter, over Freddie Gray`s April 19 death.
The 25-year-old Gray`s death at the hands of police has reignited simmering resentment in the United States over law enforcement tactics, particularly in their dealings with the black community.
Demonstrations have erupted daily in Baltimore this week, while there have been rallies in many other major American cities, including New York, Philadelphia and the capital Washington, in echoes of the protests that broke out across the United States last year over the fatal police shooting of an unarmed black teenager in Ferguson, Missouri.
People in Baltimore, a gritty city of 620,000 people an hour`s drive from Washington, had come out onto the streets to celebrate the news that the six police officers -- who later all posted bond and were released -- would face charges.
"The findings of our comprehensive, thorough and independent investigation, coupled with the medical examiner`s determination that Mr Gray`s death was a homicide... have led us to believe that we have probable cause to file criminal charges," Maryland state prosecutor Marilyn Mosby said.
Mosby said Gray "suffered a severe and critical neck injury as a result of being handcuffed, shackled by his feet and unrestrained" inside a moving police van following his arrest on April 12. He died a week later from his injuries.
Baltimore`s police union condemned what it called "an egregious rush to judgement," as it defended the officers and expressed confidence they would be cleared.
"We believe that these officers will be vindicated as they have done nothing wrong," said Michael Davey, a lawyer for the city`s Fraternal Order of Police, suggesting that prosecutors had succumbed to pressure from the days of demonstrations.But if authorities had hoped the announcement would ease tensions on Baltimore`s streets, a large daytime march and night protests proved them wrong.
While some expressed relief that the police officers had been charged, others cautioned that it was only the first step in a process that once again casts a damning spotlight on race relations in the United States.
Capricia Howard, 23, spoke of her mixed emotions at Mosby`s announcement.
"I feel relieved because it was time, you know," she said. "I just want it to be known that nobody is above the law -- officers, sheriffs, whoever.
"Just because you have a badge does not give you a right to take another man`s life. We live in this community, and we deserve our justice.
"I`m raising a young black man that looks like Freddie Gray. I was prepared to leave the state because I don`t want to raise my son and 10 years later a cowboy -- I`m sorry, a cop -- kills him, and gets away with it."
There were hints Friday that the unrest could spread to other parts of the United States.
More than a dozen people were arrested in the Californian city of Oakland after a May Day protest that focused on alleged police brutality turned violent.
"Individuals within the groups committed multiple acts of vandalism," police said in a statement. "These acts of vandalism included broken windows, graffiti, small fires and failure to disperse."
Separately, three police officers were injured in Seattle on a Friday evening demonstration and 16 people were arrested, according to police.
