Statement on Ongoing Violence in Baltimore

Statement on Ongoing Violence in Baltimore

"I will never accept that losing hundreds of Baltimoreans each year is normal."

BALTIMORE, MD (Friday, August 7, 2020) — Baltimore City Council President Brandon M. Scott released the following statement on ongoing violence in Baltimore and this weekend's Ceasefire:

"As of today, Baltimore has lost 201 lives to violence — even amid a global pandemic. This is unacceptable. I will never accept that losing hundreds of Baltimoreans each year is normal. We cannot allow ourselves to grow numb to these numbers, nor to the ripple effect that every loss of life has on our families and communities. 

I know that Baltimore will reimagine public safety, focusing our attention on those committing acts of violence in our neighborhoods and getting illegal guns off the street, while simultaneously expanding community-led and public health approaches to reducing violence.  

To that end, I look forward to participating in Baltimore Ceasefire this weekend on its third anniversary. The increased participation in the Ceasefire movement demonstrates that most Baltimoreans do not accept this loss of life. 

The City Council will bring in the Baltimore Police Department for an oversight hearing on Wednesday, August 19 at 5PM. I will demand that BPD  tell me what we are doing as a city to get a handle on this violence. I invite the public to tune in, participate, and have your voice heard."