REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
Baltimore mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake speaks as U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) looks on during a news conference on the demonstrations for Freddie Gray, who died following an arrest by the Baltimore police department, in Baltimore, Maryland April 26, 2015.
"I was sickened and heartbroken by the charges I heard today," Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said in a press conference on Friday.
"No one is above the
Following the announcement that criminal charges will be brought against the six police officers allegedly responsible for Freddie Gray's death, Rawlings-Blake said that she had ordered the police commissioner to suspend the officers, and that five of six were already in custody.
Rawlings-Blake said that she will to seek justice for Gray's death, and continue to root out instances of police misconduct.
"There will be justice for Mr. Gray, there will be justice for his family and there will be justice for the people of Baltimore," Rawlings-Blake said.
"To those of you who wish to engage in brutality, misconduct, racism and corruption, let me be clear: there is no place in the Baltimore police force for you," Rawlings-Blake said.
The mayor's brief appearance comes after a press conference on Friday where the state attorney outlined the charges that will be brought against the six officers allegedly involved in Gray's death. The state prosecutor alleges that there was no reason to arrest Gray, and that the officers are responsible in failing to provide Gray with medical attention. The driver of the van carrying Gray is being charged with second-degree murder.
Rawlings-Blake joins several other local lawmakers expressing support for Mosby. On Friday, Rep. (Elijah Cummings) (D-Md) praised the decision to prosecute.
"This is a great day, and I think we need to realize that," Cummings said. "Let the wheels of justice begin to roll and it's good that they are rolling instead of standing still."