WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — US Attorney General Loretta Lynch thanked the Baltimore, Maryland law enforcement for their work and offered needed help during her trip to the city amid the recent riots over the death of African-American man Freddie Gray, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Tuesday.
“We [the DOJ] are here to help you work through these struggles," the DOJ reported Lynch telling Baltimore police officers. "To all of you on the front lines, I want to thank you. You really have become the face of law enforcement.”
The attorney general’s visit comes after violent riots erupted in Baltimore following the funeral of 25-year-old Gray, who died of spinal cord injuries sustained in a police van. On April 27, the rioters looted stores, injured 20 police officers, destroyed 15 buildings and set 144 cars on fire.
Last week, Lynch condemned the riots calling them “senseless acts of violence,” and stated they are counterproductive to developing a respectful relationship between Baltimore’s law enforcement and residents.
Gray’s death came after a string of mostly African-Americans killings at the hands of police over the past year, causing massive protests against police brutality and unaccountability throughout the United States.
