Photos Of Freddie Gray Protests In New York

More than 60 people were arrested late Wednesday night in New York as Freddie Gray protests spread from Baltimore, according to authorities. With Baltimore under a strict mandatory nighttime curfew, New York has taken the mantle into the early morning hours in protesting the death of the 25-year-old who suffered a major spinal injury while in police custody. Gray has become the latest example of young black men who have died while under arrest.

NBC New York reported a group of several hundred people that gathered in Union Square at around 6 p.m. quickly grew into a crowd of 1,000 that spread into different directions. Large demonstrations also took place in Baltimore before people were directed to clear streets at 10 p.m. The curfew went into effect Tuesday after a fiery night of violence and looting, which caused Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan to declare a state of emergency and call in the National Guard. Some 3,000 officers and National Guard troops are manning Baltimore's streets to ensure the curfew is maintained.

Police violence and the treatment of young black men by the criminal system have become the pressing issue in the United States. From Baltimore to New York to Ferguson, these sweeping protests are a critical step in enacting change.