Lynch to travel to Baltimore

by Ben Kamisar - 05/05/15 9:21 AM ET

Attorney General Loretta Lynch will head to Baltimore Tuesday to meet with community leaders and law enforcement officials.

Lynch arrives just more than a week after riots broke out over the death of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old black man who died in police custody. Charges were brought against six police officers on Friday.

{mosads}”It’s a listening session,” a Justice Department official told The Hill, adding that the DOJ will also be sharing its efforts to improve relations between the community and local police.

Lynch and the DOJ officials are expected to meet with Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, the city’s police officials, community leaders, and the Gray family.

Lynch spoke out last week about unrest in the city, calling the violence “counterproductive” and promising to provide assistance to the city.

“They are also counterproductive to the ultimate goal here, which is developing a respectful conversation within the Baltimore community and across the nation about the way our law enforcement officers interact with the residents they are charged to serve and protect,” Lynch said of the riots.

“That is a conversation that I am committed to advancing.”

Tags Loretta Lynch