Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake lifted a citywide curfew six days after the death of Freddie Gray sparked protests and riots across the city.
The order for residents to stay home after 10 p.m. went into effect on Tuesday, and officials were planning on leaving it in place through Sunday. However, tensions in Baltimore eased after State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby announced criminal charges against the six police officers involved in Gray's arrest on April 12. The charges included second-degree depraved-heart murder, false imprisonment, assault and involuntary manslaughter.
Protests since Monday's riots have been largely peaceful.
Rawlings-Blake announced the curfew change via Twitter on Sunday morning:
My goal has always been to not have the curfew in place a single day longer than was necessary. I believe we have reached that point today.— Mayor Rawlings-Blake (@MayorSRB) May 3, 2015
Effective immediately, I have rescinded my order instituting a city-wide curfew. I want to thank the people of Baltimore for their patience.— Mayor Rawlings-Blake (@MayorSRB) May 3, 2015
The community response we have seen across Baltimore has been amazing. Thank you for sharing your love for our city! pic.twitter.com/YzvpvO51fu— Mayor Rawlings-Blake (@MayorSRB) April 30, 2015
Gray, a 25-year-old black Baltimore resident, died in police custody on April 19 after being arrested a week earlier. He sustained injuries including a smashed voice box and a severed spine, although police initially claimed they arrested him on April 12 "without force."
Mosby, who has been in office for just four months, said the six officers failed to establish probable cause for Gray's arrest in the first place.