Anti-police brutality protests escalate in U.S.

Tensions are rising in Baltimore, Maryland, the United States, on Wednesday, the third day of protest against police brutality. U.S. media outlets, including CNN, reported that marchers were taking to the streets to support Baltimore protesters, showing signs of a large-scale protest. Thousands of protesters gathered at a train station marched toward the city hall, holding pickets saying, "Black Lives Matter." The protesters also protested the police`s decision not to disclose the investigation result, demanding that the whole truth be revealed.

At least 42 businesses run by ethnic Koreans have become victims of arsons and looting, with three injured. "There has been no further reported damage on Koreans since April 27," said an official at the South Korean embassy in the U.S. "We will try to verify the exact amount of damage and provide support (for Korean victims) by consulting with the state and city authorities so that they can be compensated as soon as possible."

Meanwhile, a new witness account has come out that Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old black man who triggered the Baltimore riot, attempted to hurt himself while being taken away in a police vehicle. Citing a police application for a search warrant, the Washington Post quoted a prisoner sharing a police transport van with Gray as saying that he could hear Gray "banging against the walls" of the vehicle and believed that he "was intentionally trying to injure himself."

Gray had suffered a spinal injury after being arrested by the police on April 12 and died a week later. Police claim that it was unclear whether he was injured during his arrest or while being transported to a police station.

Demonstrations are being staged in Washington, New York, Boston, Chicago, Ferguson, Minneapolis, Cleveland, and other cities in the U.S. in support of Baltimore protesters. Thousands of people gathered at Union Square in Manhattan, New York to call for justice. In Chicago, about 400 citizens held a protest in front of the city`s Police Department headquarters against police brutality and abuse of authority. Smaller-scale rallies continued in Boston, too.

firedy@donga.com