Critics protest Baltimore state's attorney
If the city's most outspoken activists gave Gregg Bernstein a honeymoon period after being sworn in earlier this month as Baltimore's new top prosecutor, it appears to be over.
Two groups of loosely-affiliated community organizations and special interests protested on opposite sides of the Mitchell Courthouse downtown on Monday, accusing Bernstein of being tight-lipped on a racially-charged assault case and criticizing his "unholy" alliance with the Police Department.
On the west side, protesters formed a picket line, invoking the shooting of Officer William H. Torbit Jr. and carrying signs with such incendiary slogans as "Arrogant Racist State's Attorney."
On the east side, people who said they represent black media and civil rights groups called on Bernstein to say more about his office's decision to drop felony assault charges against a member of a Jewish community patrol group.
"'No comment' will not suffice in the African American community," said Hassan Giordano, a blogger, talk show host and campaign consultant.
Bernstein, who defeated 15-year incumbent Patricia C. Jessamy in last year's Democratic primary election, had been supported by Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld III, who said a better relationship with prosecutors would help keep violent repeat offenders off the street.
Two high-profile and controversial cases are testing his public mettle early. Read more here.
Categories: City Hall, Courts and the justice system, Downtown, Northwest Baltimore, Police shootings, Top brass
Comments
I'd like to form a group of counter protestors, but unfortunately, all the people I know work during the day.
Did they protest when Jessamy's office decided to plea bargain with the animals who killed Zach Sowers?
Posted by: Janice Jennnings | January 24, 2011 8:24 PM
So...what was the race of the prosecutor who actually handled the case? The one who made the decision about the charges? Could he have been...black? Way to go, conspiracy theorists.
Posted by: Esther | January 24, 2011 9:47 PM
You mean that plea bargain for Zach Sowers that got like 50 years on a case they could barely prove? The fact is that Mrs. Jessamy lifted us all up and was for equal rights for all. And speaking of plea deals, Bernstein was a US Attorney. All they ever do is plea out cases. They rarely go to trial because they are cowardly.
Posted by: W | January 25, 2011 12:19 AM
Jessamy lifted us all up and was for equal rights for all? Yeah, not sure you've been paying attention these past years...I'm not convinced she even understood what the role of the prosecution was. Only in this city would we complain about the dropping of charges in a case with hear say as evidence when killers get assault charges, and convicted baby killers have to go on probation. We lift them all up...except the victims of brutal crimes...
Posted by: John | January 25, 2011 11:31 AM