Protesters Gather at 1st Hearing in Freddie Gray Death Since Baltimore Officers Charged

At a Wednesday hearing in the case of the slaying of Freddie Gray, the first since six police officers were criminally charged in Gray’s death, protesters showed up outside the Baltimore City Circuit Court to voice their concerns, the Associated Press reports.

Sheriff’s deputies patrolled the streets around the courthouse as protesters carried signs reading, “Stop racism now.” They also chanted, “Indict, convict, send those killer cops to jail. The whole damn system is guilty as hell,” and “Tell the truth and stop the lies, Freddie Gray didn’t have to die,” the wire reports.

As AP notes, prosecutors and defense attorneys will present their arguments on three issues: 1) whether Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby should recuse herself from the case, 2) whether the officers should be tried separately and 3) whether charges should be dismissed.

All six officers face multiple, varying charges. Officer Caesar R. Goodson Jr., the driver of the van in which Gray was fatally injured, is facing a second-degree “depraved heart” murder charge along with charges of manslaughter, assault and misconduct in office. The other five officers face charges ranging from manslaughter and assault to false imprisonment and misconduct in office.

Read more at the Associated Press.