WASHINGTON (AP) - The White House says the head of President Barack Obama's initiative for minority males will attend the funeral of a Baltimore man who died after sustaining serious injuries while in police custody.
Broderick Johnson, the chairman of the My Brother's Keeper Task Force, will represent the administration at Monday's funeral for Freddie Gray. Johnson is also the Cabinet secretary.
Gray is the 25-year-old black man who died a week after an encounter with Baltimore police left him with grave spinal injuries. He is being buried Monday in Baltimore.
The White House said Sunday night that Johnson, a Baltimore native, will be accompanied by two other officials.
Mourners paid their respects before Gray's coffin on Sunday, after a night of violent protests led to nearly three dozen arrests.
Press Photographer Arrested
A photo editor for a Baltimore newspaper says he was beaten by police during the protests over Gray's death.
J.M. Giordano, who works at the City Paper, says Baltimore police "swarmed over" him and hit him repeatedly. A video posted to the newspaper's website Sunday shows at least two police officers in riot gear hitting and kicking Giordano as the person filming screams, "He's a photographer! He's press!"
The 41-year-old Giordano says his head hit the ground during the beating, which he says only stopped when someone pulled him out of the fray.
Sait Serkan Gurbuz, a photographer with Reuters, says police detained him as he shot pictures of the scuffle. Reuters says Gurbuz was cited with failure to obey orders.
A Baltimore police spokesman hasn't immediately commented.
Protests Turn Violent
The protests started peacefully with thousands marching through downtown streets. Then, things turned violent and volatile.
The chaotic scene prompted the first public remarks from Freddie Gray's twin sister, who pleaded for peace at a news conference alongside the mayor. Fredricka Gray says her brother wouldn't have wanted to see the violent protests.
After nightfall, groups of protesters marched from City Hall to the Camden Yards baseball stadium, where the Baltimore Orioles played the Boston Red Sox. Fans were told to briefly stay inside the stadium until the police were able to clear an intersection outside of the venue.
Meanwhile, a smaller "splinter group" looted a convenience store and threw tables and chairs through storefront windows. At least 12 people were arrested and five officers suffered minor injuries.
