Maryland's Governor Declares State of Emergency, Calls in National Guard in Response to Baltimore Riots

Maryland's governor declared a state of emergency and called in the National Guard on Monday as riots escalated in Baltimore over the recent death of Freddie Gray, with rioters reportedly looting businesses and injuring police.

The riots tore through Baltimore on Monday and Tuesday following the funeral of 25-year-old Gray, who died after suffering a spinal injury following his arrest by police in April. The video of Gray's arrest, which is under investigation, was recently released to the public.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan deployed about 5,000 law enforcement officials from other states to help with the rioting taking place in Baltimore. Multiple media outlets report that the rioting consists of looting, fires, and attacking police officers.

As the Boston Herald reports, 15 officers were injured during the Monday riots, and two dozen people were arrested.

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake enacted a week-long curfew beginning Tuesday in an attempt to curb the violence, saying that the riots were being carried out by "thugs who only want to incite violence and destroy our city."

"Too many people have spent generations building up this city for it to be destroyed by thugs who, in a very senseless way, are trying to tear down what so many have fought for," Rawlings-Blake said in a statement, as reported by the Baltimore Sun. "It's idiotic to think that by destroying your city, you're going to make life better for anybody."

According to the New York Times, although Baltimore streets seemed peaceful on Tuesday morning, locals have questioned if the violence will escalate come Tuesday night.

"It's not going to happen again," Gov. Hogan told the media outlet regarding the violence.