Baltimore awakens to devastation: Note for a lecture, "E Pluribus Unum? What Keeps the United States United"

Donna Leinwand Leger, William M. Welch and John Bacon, USA TODAY

Residents of Baltimore are dealing with the damage left behind by rioters who looted stores and set buildings on fire after Freddie Gray was laid to rest. Gray suffered a fatal spinal cord injury while in police custody. VPC

Batts said it appeared that a number of gangs met and decided that each group would "take out a police officer" after Monday's funeral of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old black man who suffered a fatal spinal injury after being in police custody.

USA TODAY

Baltimore erupts in protest: Monday's developments

Social media was alive with "#purge" before and during the mayhem, an apparent allusion to the film The Purge, which featured a 12-hour period in which any crime was legal.

Batts implored parents to take control of their children who might be taking part in the rioting. He said some of the structures that were being destroyed took great effort to erect in ailing communities that need them. Many communities do not survive riots, he said.

"I've seen cities that haven't recovered 50 years later," he said.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan declared a state of emergency in the city and activated the National Guard to assist city and state police. Up to 5,000 guard members could be called; Hogan said another 5,000 officers from neighboring police departments were being pressed into service.

Firefighters battle a blaze at a building during a violent protest against the death of Freddie Gray. (Photo: John Taggart, European Pressphoto Agency)

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Rawlings-Blake called the rioters "thugs" and dismissed claims that she waited too long to send in a heavy police and National Guard presence, saying authorities believed they had gained control.

USA TODAY

Baltimore Mayor: 'Thugs' are destroying our city

"I'm a life-long resident of Baltimore, and 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," she said.

Referring to the looters, she said during a TV interview: "I don't understand how stealing jeans is going to bring justice to Mr. Gray."

USA TODAY

As Baltimore riots, rage and prayer flood social media

The Baltimore Orioles postponed a scheduled Monday night game with the Chicago White Sox. The violence was taking place about two and a half miles from the Camden Yards baseball stadium that is home to the Orioles.

USA TODAY

Baltimore rioters target stores, beat photographer

After darkness fell, a large building under construction near a Baptist church was engulfed in fire. A spokesman for the mayor, Kevin Harris, said the fire was related to the riots. He said the Mary Harvin Transformation Center was under construction and that no one was believed to be in the building at the time. The center is described online as a community-based organization that supports youth and families.

U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch dispatched the Justice Department's civil rights chief and director of the agency's community policing office to Baltimore in wake of rioting there. She condemned "senseless acts of violence.''

"In the days ahead, I intend to work with leaders throughout Baltimore to ensure that we can protect the security and civil rights of all residents,'' Lynch said. "And I will bring the full resources of the Department of Justice to bear in protecting those under threat, investigating wrongdoing, and securing an end to violence.''