Specter of racial discrimination haunts US
A new wave of anger has swept across the United States following the death of Freddie Gray in police custody in Baltimore, Maryland. The 25-year-old African American was detained for illegally possessing a knife. While being transported in a police van, his head collided with the back of the vehicle, leading to serious injury to his neck and eventual death.
As US President Barack Obama has said: "The key is to find (the) truth (in this incident)." He has also said that the trend of African Americans dying at the hands of police has become "a slowly developing crisis".
The quick response of the Baltimore prosecutor seems to have added to the public fury. Based on initial findings, Gray did carry a knife but not the type that is banned. Also, the six policemen who handled Gray's case have been found responsible for his injury and death, and indicted on criminal charges.
