PHILADELPHIA, April 30 (UPI) -- Hundreds of people marched Thursday in downtown Philadelphia to protest the death of Freddie Gray, who suffered a fatal injury while in the custody of Baltimore police.
The group gathered first at City Hall, then marched through the streets blocking traffic, WCAU-TV in Philadelphia reported.
People chanted many of the slogans heard in demonstrations throughout the United States since last year's death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo.: "No justice, no peace" and "Black lives matter."
Organizers called the demonstration the "Philly is Baltimore" protest, drawing comparisons between Gray's death and that of Brandon Tate-Brown in Philadelphia in December. Tate-Brown, 26, was killed by Philadelphia police.
The district attorney declined to press charges against police in that case because the police report said Tate-Brown was reaching for a gun in his vehicle at the time he was shot.
Protesters said they took to the streets to show solidarity with Baltimore, where nightly demonstrations have taken place for more than a week.
Groups in Philadelphia eventually split up, some heading toward Rittenhouse Square, while others headed toward Interstate 95. The scene became tense near the entry ramps to the interstate as police prevented the crowd from gaining access and blocking traffic.
