TRNN reports from Courthouse East in Baltimore after a jury was unable to return a verdict for any of the four charges brought against Officer William Porter in the death of Freddie Gray
Story Transcript
JAISAL NOOR, TRNN: Welcome to the Real News Network. I’m Jaisal Noor in front of Courthouse East in Baltimore, Maryland. Just after 3:00 PM on Wednesday, Judge Barry Williams declared a mistrial in the case of Officer William Porter, first of six officers to go to trial for the death of Freddie Gray. He was charged with four counts, including manslaughter, misconduct in office, second degree assault. And he could have faced more than 20 years in prison. But after over 16 hours of deliberation, a jury could not reach a unanimous verdict on those four counts. William Porter will be back in the courthouse tomorrow to see an administrative judge about scheduling the next court date. He will be retried, from what we understand, for the death of Freddie Gray. We’re out here in front of the courthouse. We’re going to speak to protesters and legal experts about what this decision means. NEILL FRANKLIN: The policy is seatbelt them in. Just follow the policy and keep people safe. I’m kind of disturbed about some of this testimony that came from two people I do know, Timmy Longo and Justin Reynolds. To hear that we don’t have to follow policy, that it’s–to get the impression, to give the impression to other police officers who are working today that it’s not that necessary, I think it’s a very bad message to send. NOOR: We can hear the helicopters overhead. There’s several helicopters here. Protesters have taken the streets, and we’re going to get, we’re going to hear from some of the people that are out here from the community. What are you feeling right now? ARTHUR B. JOHNSON JR.: Oh, disappointment. Anger at first. The first feeling was anger. And then it’s disappointment settled in. NOOR: Moments ago, after police ordered the streets clear, police arrested Kwame Rose, an activist who’s been interviewed several times on the Real News. He was just taken inside Courthouse East. WESTLEY WEST: My name is Westley West. I’m out here because first of all, I need to make sure that the community’s voice is heard by my presence today. Right now even what just happened with the arrest of Kwame, I think aggressive policing of [inaud.] what we’ve been experiencing in the city of Baltimore, that needs to change. NOOR: What does this hung jury, in the case of Officer William Porter, what does that mean to you, what does that mean to the community you come from? WEST: That means that justice has not been served. That means right now, we, it seems as if we don’t have a voice. PROTESTER: So I really hope when y’all leave here that y’all come to a conclusion. Do I really, am I really doing what I’m here to do? Because the majority of you are scared right now. I see it all in your face. The vast majority of you are fearful right now. Because you have no idea what’s about to take place. Not a clue. It’s what the city’s about, big money. Big dollars. And y’all just are stool pigeon–y’all are the lower class. The higher class, the ones that’s up there, that’s looking down at y’all, that told y’all to be here right now, you cannot respect them because they put y’all in harm’s way.
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