City leaders and community activists in Connecticut are keeping a close watch on the tension unfolding in Baltimore.
Riots, looting and violence erupted Monday after the funeral for Freddie Gray, who died in police custody earlier this month after suffering an unexplained spinal injury.
Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra said he reached out to Baltimore's mayor to offer prayers and support in this difficult time.
"I think when you get to cities like Baltimore, and Hartford in many respects is no different, that you have large groups of especially young men and women of color who feel disenfranchised and feel like hope and opportunity is not there," said Segarra.
After similar unrest unfolded last year in Ferguson, Missouri, Hartford city leaders teamed up with police, faith-based groups, and community activists to call for peace and to build trust with residents through community outreach.
It's a strategy they continue to focus on now.
"Fear is not what's important. Threats are not what's important. What's important is that we move forward with our community and build trust together," said Deputy Chief Brian Foley of the Hartford Police Department.
Segarra said he has a plan in place should such unrest ever break out here, but it's one he hopes never to use.
"The best plan is to take all actions that can be taken to prevent things from occurring. That is the best plan and that is why we need to continue to have the dialogue and have these conversations within our community so that we don't have to go there," said Segarra.
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Several community activists are also addressing about the violence in Baltimore.
"Of course we don't condone violence but we have to understand the level of frustration and anger there," said Rev. Henry Brown, a community activist in Hartford.
Brown said he's hopeful such violence would not erupt in Connecticut.
"I think we can be able to come to the table together and try to resolve issues if they happen. We are praying that we never have to face that situation here," said Brown.
Others said they're not surprised by the outcry in Baltimore.
"I just think what you're seeing happen in Baltimore is just this level of frustration that people have and I don't condone it but I'm not surprised by it," said Hartford community activist Steve Harris.
Scot Esdaile, president of the Connecticut NAACP, also addressed the violence, urging police to treat citizens with kidness.
"It's extremely important that police departments have more concern, more compassion about the people they serve. They must protect and serve. If they don't protect and serve then we find ourselves in situations like this," said Esdaile.
He also said we need to incite change across the country.
"I think the ultimate goal is to deal with racism in America. Right now no one really wants to talk about it. Everyone's striving to be politically correct," he said.
