Hundreds to Protest Outside Freddie Gray Hearing in Baltimore

More than 400 people have said they plan to attend a protest outside the Baltimore City courthouse where hearings related to the death of Freddie Gray are slated to begin at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Six Baltimore Police officers have been charged in the case of 25-year-old Gray, who died in police custody April 19 from a spinal injury.

Before the proceedings begin inside the courthouse, one group is planning to demonstrate outside. Baltimore People’s Power Assembly created a Facebook page to coordinate a protest outside Baltimore City Circuit Court that starts at 8 a.m. Wednesday. By noon on Tuesday, more than 400 people said they would join.

According to WJZ, more than one group is planning to demonstrate.

In preparation for potential unrest, the police department cancelled police leave on Sept. 2 and 10, when the pretrial hearings are slated to take place, Baltimore Police spokesman T.J. Smith told WBAL.

The Sept. 2 hearing will reportedly address whether to hold the six trials separately or group the officers together; whether any charges may be dismissed; and whether Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby will be prosecuting. The Sept. 10 hearing is to cover whether the proceedings will take place in Baltimore.

The protest will begin at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 2, at the Mitchell Courthouse, 111 N. Calvert Street, in Baltimore City. A pretrial hearing will take place at 9:30 a.m.