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In the Media: Local Universities Join Movement for Racial Inclusion; Md. Senate Race in Baltimore

A student a Towson University's protests for racial inclusion, and in solidarity with Mizzou.
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A student a Towson University's protests for racial inclusion, and in solidarity with Mizzou.

A digest of Baltimore news from local sources.

From The Baltimore Sun: Towson, Hopkins, and U-Md. Students Join Protest Movement for Racial Inclusion

"Towson University student activists wouldn't leave interim President Timothy Chandler's office until he signed their list of demands to address institutional racism on campus. The negotiations lasted eight hours, into early Thursday morning.

"At the Johns Hopkins University, President Ronald J. Daniels was filming a video on a Homewood campus quadrangle last week when more than 100 students surrounded him, chanting, "It happens at Mizzou; it happens here, too."

"And in College Park, University of Maryland students used the unveiling of a statue of abolitionist Frederick Douglass on Wednesday to repeat a call to rename Byrd Stadium, the football arena named for a former university president who held segregationist views. A broad coalition of student groups is working on a list of other demands.

"Students around the region have been emboldened by the actions of those at the University of Missouri and other institutions, where protesters have demanded administrators do more to address incidents of racism and promote racial inclusivity. The demonstrations have spurred debates over political correctness and the role of universities in dealing with racism.

"The discussions also build upon efforts across Baltimore's predominantly black campuses, including Baltimore City Community College, Morgan State University and Coppin State University, to address racial and socioeconomic inequality in the wake of April unrest over the death of Freddie Gray. The 25-year-old Baltimore man died after suffering a severe spinal cord injury while in police custody."

Full Article

From The Baltimore Sun: In Maryland Senate Race, A Battle For Baltimore

"The two Democrats running for the U.S. Senate in Maryland are from the Washington suburbs, but they are suddenly popping up all over Baltimore.

"Reps. Donna F. Edwards of Prince George's County and Chris Van Hollen of Montgomery County have appeared more frequently in the Democrat-rich Baltimore region in recent weeks than in any other part of the state — underscoring its battleground status in one of the nation's most closely watched primary contests.

"Both candidates are better known in their own communities on the other side of Route 32, and so Baltimore is wide-open political territory.

"'It's important for Baltimore to enjoy success because that defines success for the entire state,' Edwards, 57, said between campaign stops in the city recently. 'I'm spending a lot of time in Baltimore because I'm not from Baltimore, and so I want to learn its neighborhoods and communities — its leaders.'

"Van Hollen echoed the sentiment during a recent visit: 'My view has always been that the state of Maryland is only going to be strong and vibrant if the city of Baltimore is strong and vibrant.'"

Full Article

From The Washington Post: Man Sues Baltimore Police, Says He Was Beaten During Unrest

"A man who says a Baltimore police officer beat him with a baton and arrested him for no reason during the civil unrest in April following the death of Freddie Gray has sued the department, according to a lawsuit.

"Branden Owens alleges he was walking with his fiancee and her son to buy groceries on April 27 near Mondawmin Mall, where rioting first broke out and spread throughout the city, when he was surrounded by police. Owens said in the suit filed Wednesday that one officer struck him in the chest with a baton after he asked whether he could approach the grocery store.

"When Owens asked for the officer’s badge number, Owens said he replied, 'It’s 666. I’m the devil.' Owens was arrested and spent two days in jail before being released without charges."

Full Article