Dedicated to Jerry Cross
(SANDTOWN – April 18, 2025) – At some point, I knew I had to write about Freddie Gray—especially now, a full decade since his death. So many memories flood my mind: the burning car a block away on North Carrollton Avenue, the TV news hyping up “rioters” marching down Historic Pennsylvania Avenue, the mother who snatched her son out of the chaos on national TV. From Gilmor Homes to Mondawmin to Penn-North, West Baltimore was rising up—voicing decades of pain, frustration, and disregard for the city’s Black majority. The drama also went to East Monument Street. And then there was the curfew.
I still remember President Obama calling some of us “thugs.” It stung. That moment was a powder keg no elected official was truly ready for, just like the tragedy with the Key Bridge. I remember Pastor Jamal Bryant at Gilmor Homes. I also recall West Baltimore residents cleaning up the very next morning.
What struck me most was the world media swarming Penn-North. Even Geraldo showed up. That was surreal—seeing him at that corner. I saw Nick Mosby helping Congressman Elijah Cummings across the street. I remember then-Senator Catherine Pugh arriving, followed by Governor Larry Hogan. They shook hands at one of Baltimore’s most infamous intersections.
The media got a lot wrong—and so did law enforcement. Take the so-called “rioters” on Pennsylvania Avenue. Most of them were Douglass High School students, wearing khakis, light blue oxfords, and backpacks. Commissioner Anthony Batts had shut down the Mondawmin MTA Metro Station, stranding kids from a central transportation hub. Looking back, a better move would have been to alert the principal so that parents could arrange to pick up their children.
But that didn’t happen. Instead, what followed was a disastrous miscalculation. And then came the National Guard, ordered in by Governor Hogan.
Ten years later, a lot has changed. Some good came of it. But much was lost—millions of dollars misused, promises made by corporate elites downtown that never materialized. Millions pledged, but only a fraction delivered. Shame on them.
People were chasing the spotlight. But in Baltimore, real recognizes real. The true heroes and sheroes didn’t seek attention—they got the work done. They weren’t crafting Instagram captions; they were in the trenches, day in and day out.
Over the past decade, I’ve helped organize around 30 community meetings. I saw a parade of fast-talkers, con artists, and phony non-profits trying to profit off Sandtown’s pain. For those unfamiliar, Sandtown stretches from North & Fulton to North & Carey, down Carey to Cumberland, east to the Avenue, south to Fremont, down to Lafayette, and back to Fulton. Winchester runs from North & Monroe to North & Fulton, then south to Lafayette.
As I’ve said before, some of the greatest disappointments in Sandtown have come from “so-called” clergy. If you can’t trust the church, who can you trust? But let me shout out Simmons Memorial Baptist, Sharon Baptist, New Bethlehem Baptist, and St. Luke UMC—Sandtown churches that make us proud. A tree is known by its fruit.
Let me also give credit where it’s due. Councilman John Bullock and his powerhouse staffer Linda Lomax, Senator Antonio Hayes, and Councilman James Torrence have been solid from day one. Back in 2015, Hayes was still a Delegate—but he was “the bomb” then, ensuring food reached families and seniors received their medication. He’s still “the bomb” now, spearheading the West North Avenue Development Authority and helping to bring more than $45 million into a part of town long neglected. The Senator grew up two blocks from Penn-North.
Truth be told, Governor Bob Ehrlich helped set the stage by investing millions into what became Coppin State University. Today, Coppin stretches from Baker Street to Gwynns Falls Parkway. I grew up on Moreland Avenue. Warwick Avenue saw both life and death. To see Coppin thrive there now feels like a rebirth for the community around Easterwood Park.
Speaking of Easterwood, shout out to Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake for connecting Omega Psi Phi to that rec center. Without that link—and the leadership of Zanes Cypress—we might not have a functioning rec at all. That place once again gives hope to our youth.
I also want to mention Rasheed Aziz and the EMAGE Center, located at 2132 West North Avenue. He built a powerhouse of manufacturing and entrepreneurship in the heart of West Baltimore. That, too, was first backed by Republicans, with Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford playing a key role.
So when we talk about real heroes, let’s not forget Senator Antonio Hayes. He’s worked both sides of the aisle to bring life back to a deeply blessed—and deeply scarred—part of this city. There are also people like Marsha Bannerman and Rena Jackson who have always served the community. And let’s also remember the Sandtown-Winchester Community Collective, led by Tracey Malone, Talea Dixon, and Corey Olivis. And there are other genuine entities like Elev8 Baltimore, led by Alexandria Warrick Adams, and No Boundaries, headed by Ashiah Parker, that do what they say they will do. These are the real people who have put in their all in Sandtown and our surrounding communities. These are the boots on the ground, for real for real. They always make us extremely proud!
