Wire creator urges rioters in Baltimore to 'go home'
- Published
Protests in Baltimore
The Wire creator David Simon, who dramatised the racial tensions between Baltimore citizens and the police, has urged rioters to "go home".
More than a dozen police officers have been injured and at least two dozen people arrested in the clashes.
It followed the funeral of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old black man who died after being detained by police.
David called for the violence to come to an end.
He wrote on his blog: "The anger and the selfishness and the brutality of those claiming the right to violence in Freddie Gray's name needs to cease.
"There was real power and potential in the peaceful protests that spoke in Mr Gray's name initially, and there was real unity at his home-going.
"But this, now, in the streets, is an affront to that man's memory and a diminution of the absolute moral lesson that underlies his unnecessary death.
"If you can't seek redress and demand reform without a brick in your hand, you risk losing this moment for all of us in Baltimore. Turn around. Go home. Please."
Actors Wendell Pierce and Sonja Sohn, from the HBO series The Wire, participate in a panel discussion
Freddie died on 19 April after a week in a coma. It's reported he suffered serious spinal injuries after his arrest.
The justice department is investigating exactly where and when his injuries were sustained.
Officials have suspended six police officers who were involved in the case.
Volunteers help clean up city following riots
Freddie's family have publically condemned the violence.
"To see that it turned into all this violence and destruction, I am really appalled," Freddie's stepfather Richard Shipley said, external to NBC news.
His mother, Gloria Darden, has said she wants justice for her son but has urged protesters not to "do it like this."
"Don't tear up the whole city just for him," she said. "That's wrong."
Follow @BBCNewsbeat, external on Twitter, BBCNewsbeat, external on Instagram, Radio1Newsbeat, external on YouTube and you can now follow BBC_Newsbeat on Snapchat