Baltimore mayor announces citywide curfew, blasts 'thugs' who 'incite violence'

On Monday evening, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake announced during a news conference that a citywide curfew of 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. will start on Tuesday, and will be extended as necessary after one week.

The mayor said that once the curfew goes into effect, everyone has to be off the streets unless it's a "medical emergency or you're going to work," and reminded people that there is a juvenile curfew of 9 p.m. that will be strictly enforced. Rawlings-Blake then turned her attention to the rioters, saying there is a "very clear difference" between the peaceful protesters "who wish to seek justice, those who seek to be heard and want answers," and the "thugs who only want to incite violence and destroy our city." Rawlings-Blake, a lifelong resident of Baltimore, added that "too many people have spent generations building up this city for it to be destroyed by thugs who in a very senseless way are trying to tear down what so many have fought for, tearing down businesses, tearing down and destroying property, things that we know will impact our community for years."

A police official also stated during the news conference that 15 police officers were injured by flying debris thrown by rioters, and two are still hospitalized. He said that over the next few days, officials will look over video footage to identify the perpetrators.

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