A woman takes part in a Solidarity Baltimore rally in Times Square on April 29, 2015 in New York City. Baltimore, Maryland remains on edge in the wake of the death of Freddie Gray, though the city has been largely peaceful following a day of rioting this past Monday. (Photo by Kena Betancur/Getty Images)
(CNN) — Momentum is growing across the country and demonstrations have spread since the Baltimore protests Tuesday over the death of Freddie Gray. Marchers are taking to the streets to support Baltimore protesters and to complain that police brutality is a problem in their own towns. Gray died from spinal cord injuries on April 19, a week after being arrested by Baltimore police.
Demonstrations have unfolded in Boston, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Minneapolis, New York, Washington, and Ferguson, Missouri. Protests are planned Thursday in Cincinnati and Philadelphia, according to CNN affiliate WXIX and Philly.com.
Demonstrations in Seattle; Portland, Oregon; and Oakland, California, are on tap for Friday, which is also May Day or International Workers Day — often used to call attention to issues affecting the working class and minorities.
In addition to Baltimore, protests took place in at least half a dozen cities Wednesday.
New York
In New York, 143 people were arrested Wednesday night as several hundred people converged on Union Square for what was billed as a “NYC Rise up & Shut It down with Baltimore” rally.
New York police were out in force, pushing protesters back. Police used zip tie restraints on nearly two dozen people in the streets after a small scuffle. Social media were used to organize the protest, similar to how demonstrations were organized over the killing of Eric Garner. He died in July in Staten Island while being held by police in what appeared to be a chokehold.
The New York Police Department also handed out fliers and used loudspeakers to tell protesters and pedestrians to stay on the sidewalk.
One person was placed in an ambulance and taken away. The crowd headed toward Times Square.
CNN affiliate WCBS reported Mayor Bill de Blasio sent a message to the protesters: “I’d say that if you want to make change, keep things peaceful.” A smaller rally was held Tuesday in New York.
Washington
“All night, all day, we’re gonna fight for Freddie Gray.” That’s the chant heard from about 500 protesters in the nation’s capital Wednesday night.
The mood there was almost festive, as songs by Public Enemy like “Fight the Power” played while sign-language interpreters translated the music and the chants. The protests moved to the White House, but didn’t disrupt traffic.
Eugene Puryear, the organizer of one of the groups involved in the protest, the DC Ferguson Movement, said the march was called to show solidarity with the residents of Baltimore and to bring attention to police brutality as a national issue.
Minneapolis and Denver
Several hundred people gathered in Gold Medal Park in Minneapolis for a rally organized by the group #BlackLivesMatter. The Minneapolis group has held similar events in the past in response to what it says is police brutality across the country.
Violence broke out in downtown Denver on Wednesday night during a demonstration by about 100 people. Police in riot gear with military-style weapons and sticks used pepper spray on the crowd. Protesters said they were angry about police brutality around the country, including the case of Freddie Gray.
Shortly after 7 p.m. there was a minor scuffle in Civic Center Park. Police said they used force only after one of their officers was pushed to the ground. The Denver Post reported at least five protesters — including one whose face was bloodied — were arrested on the scene.
A witness said the protest was peaceful up until that point. Laura Wooldridge, a 49-year-old activist, told the Post, “The next thing I knew pepper spray was being sprayed into the audience.”
In all, 11 people were arrested. Charges included assault of a police officer, robbery, resisting police, disobedience to lawful orders, obstructing roadways and interference.
Police said they were protecting those in the march and ensuring public safety, according to a message posted on Twitter.
Ferguson
Violence marked protests that took place Tuesday night in Ferguson, Missouri, where three people were shot, city police reported.
But police said they didn’t do the shooting. A 20-year-old man was arrested and the three victims were in stable condition — two with wounds to the neck, one in the leg, police said.
Police said about 300 people marched, with protesters throwing rocks at police, damaging four police cars and setting trash and debris on fire near the intersection of Northwinds Estates Drive and West Florissant Avenue.
Chicago
Hundreds of people marched in Chicago on Tuesday from police headquarters through the Southside, CNN affiliate WGN reported. One arrest was made, for reckless conduct. Protesters talked about police violence and the death of Rekia Boyd, killed by an off-duty officer in 2012. The officer was acquitted last week.
