Footage of local African-American Baltimore, MD residents being arrested and harassed by police for demanding that local contractors hire locally for jobs in their communities. Footage was shot on March 29th, 2012 at a peaceful march organized by Baltimore Churches & Community United, a coalition of local organizations mobilizing for local jobs in their communities.
BALTIMORE, MD -- Hundreds of Baltimore City residents along Johns Hopkins University students, demonstrated at Johns Hopkins University and East Baltimore Development Inc. projects on Thursday March 29th to protest the lack of local workers on these projects.
Participants assembled at 10 a.m. at Triumph Christian Church, 2200 East Oliver St. and began the peaceful march at 11am to the University and the construction sites.
These projects are estimated at millions of dollars with hundreds of jobs opportunities. Unfortunately for far too long, willing and able residents of Baltimore City have been overlooked for these chances to not only make a difference in the economic development of Baltimore City, but to more importantly, be able to provide a stable living environment for their families. The intent behind this action was to not only to demand that contractors and developers do right by giving Baltimore City residents opportunities, but to also hold accountable, major shareholders and those responsible for current projects and upcoming projects, such as Johns Hopkins University. This is not only a economic issue, but also a social justice issue. The time has come for Johns Hopkins to live by the principals in which they teach. The demands of the protestors are simple; if they truly want to build up East Baltimore, do the right thing, and allow East Baltimore residents to build up THEIR city.
