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Rev. Al Sharpton discusses police-community relations in Baltimore, plans Freddie Gray march

Rev. Al Sharpton discusses police-community relations in Baltimore, plans Freddie Gray march BY: WMAR Staff , Associated Press BALTIMORE – The Rev. Al Sharpton has met with activists and faith leaders in Baltimore as part of his plan to schedule a two-day march from Baltimore to Washington in May. He says the march will aim to bring the cases of Freddie Gray, Eric Garner, Walter Scott and Eric Harris to the attention of new Attorney General Loretta Lynch. Sharpton addressed those concerns and plans during a luncheon at New Shiloh Baptist Church. “There must be a national response to a national issues,” said Sharpton, who added that what happened with Freddie Gray represents part of a national problem. Sharpton also defended Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake’s handling of the unrest following Gray’s death. “Don’t blame the last mayor for the last 50 years,” Sharpton said. In a statement Monday before Gray’s funeral, Sharpton says he had been resisting getting personally involved because he wanted to wait until he saw what the police department’s investigation found. But now he says since the department’s report may not be released publicly, he has decided to travel to Baltimore. Police said it released its report to the State’s Attorney’s office on Thursday. Gray, 25, died April 19 of an unexplained spinal injury while in police custody. Rawlings-Blake said she has worked to reform the police department and has welcomed the Justice Department coming in to conduct their own investigation into Gray’s death. “We will find justice for Freddie Gray,” she said.