“The Wire” Creator David Simon, Ravens Linebacker Ray Lewis Call for End to Violence in Baltimore

By Colin Bertram • •

"The Wire" creator David Simon and former Ravens NFL linebacker Ray Lewis are calling for an end to the violence in Baltimore.

Simon, a former Baltimore Sun journalist and whose hit HBO series depicted the harsh realities of life on the streets of the city, wrote in a blog post published Monday evening that "the anger and the selfishness and the brutality of those claiming the right to violence in Freddie Gray’s name needs to cease."

Riots broke out across Baltimore following the funeral for Gray, who died after suffering a spinal injury while in police custody earlier in April.

"There was real power and potential in the peaceful protests that spoke in Mr. Gray’s name initially, and there was real unity at his homegoing today," said Simon. "But this, now, in the streets, is an affront to that man’s memory and a diminution of the absolute moral lesson that underlies his unnecessary death."

Writing "there is a lot to be argued, debated, addressed," and that "changes are necessary and voices need to be heard," Simon called for a cease in the bloodshed and aggression rocking the city. "If you can’t seek redress and demand reform without a brick in your hand, you risk losing this moment for all of us in Baltimore. Turn around. Go home. Please."

In another impassioned plea, former NFL player Ray Lewis–who played his entire 17-year  professional career for the Baltimore Ravens–posted a video to Facebook on Tuesday in which he tells citizens to "get off the streets. Violence is not the answer. Violence has never been the answer." [[301574511, C]]

In the two-minute video Lewis, who served probation and received a $250,000 fine after striking a plea deal with prosecutors in a 2000 Atlanta murder case which still remains unsolved, condemns the rioting. "You don't have no right to do what you're doing to this city," Lewis says. "Too many hardworking people built this city. We put this city together. We put this city on our back... We know the problems. We know there was wrong done. We know we are not getting the right justice. We know what's out there. But rioting in our streets is wrong."

Simon and Lewis were joined by other celebrated Baltimore locals and those with ties to the area who took to social media to plead for peace.

Baltimore residents celebrate at the corner of West North Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue after Baltimore authorities released a report on the death of Freddie Gray while police in riot gear stand guard on May 1, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland.
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A protester holds a sign reading "Thank you Mosby" during a march May 1, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland.
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Activists protest in front of City Hall after marching from the Sandtown neighborhood to demand better police accountability and racial equality following the death of Freddie Gray on April 30, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland.
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Baltimore residents celebrate at the corner of West North Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue after Baltimore authorities released a report on the death of Freddie Gray while police in riot gear stand guard on May 1, 2015.
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Protesters march through the streets demanding better racial equality May 1, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland.
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Baltimore residents celebrate at the corner of West North Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue after Baltimore authorities released a report on the death of Freddie Gray while police in riot gear stand guard on May 1, 2015.
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Protesters march through the streets demanding better racial equality May 1, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland.
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Riot police monitor protesters during a march May 1, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. Maryland state attorney Marilyn J. Mosby announced that charges would be filed against Baltimore police officers in the death of Freddie Gray.
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Students from Baltimore colleges and high schools march in a protest, chanting "Justice for Freddie Gray" on their way to City Hall April 29, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. Baltimore remains on edge in the wake of the death of Freddie Gray, though the city has been largely peaceful following a day of rioting this past Monday. Gray, 25, was arrested for possessing a switch blade knife April 12 outside the Gilmor Houses housing project on Baltimore's west side.
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Protesters fill Union Square during a Solidarity With City of Baltimore rally on April 29, 2015 in New York City. Baltimore, Maryland remains on edge in the wake of the death of Freddie Gray, though the city has been largely peaceful following a day of rioting this past Monday.
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A man takes part in a Solidarity With City of Baltimore rally at Union Square on April 29, 2015 in New York City. Baltimore, Maryland remains on edge in the wake of the death of Freddie Gray, though the city has been largely peaceful following a day of rioting this past Monday.
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People wait for the bus at the Mondawmin Station while police secure Mondawmin Mall on April 29, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. Mondawmin Mall was looted by people Monday afternoon, the same day as the funeral for Freddie Gray.
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Daquan Green, age 17, sits on the curb while riot police stand guard near the CVS pharmacy that was set on fire yesterday during rioting after the funeral of Freddie Gray, on April 28, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland.
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People protest near the CVS pharmacy that was set on fire Monday during rioting after the funeral of Freddie Gray, on April 28, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland.
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Protesters walk forward with their hands up as an armored police vehicle reverses down the street near the CVS pharmacy that was set on fire Monday during rioting after the funeral of Freddie Gray, on April 28, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland.
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Baltimore Police officers use tear gas to disperse protesters outside the Mondawmin Mall following the funeral of Freddie Gray April 27, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland.
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A police vehicle burns, Monday, April 27, 2015, during unrest following the funeral of Freddie Gray in Baltimore. Gray died from spinal injuries about a week after he was arrested and transported in a Baltimore Police Department van.
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A brick sits on a street as police standby, Monday, April 27, 2015, during a skirmish with demonstrators after the funeral of Freddie Gray in Baltimore. Gray died from spinal injuries about a week after he was arrested and transported in a Baltimore Police Department van.
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A Baltimore Police officer checks on a man who was injured along Reisterstown Road near Mondawmin Mall during a protest April 27, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. A group of young protestors clashed with police in the streets near Mondawmin Mall in the afternoon following Freddie Gray's funeral.
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A boy throws a brick at a police van, Monday, April 27, 2015, during a skirmish between demonstrators and police after the funeral of Freddie Gray in Baltimore. Gray died from spinal injuries about a week after he was arrested and transported in a Baltimore Police Department van.
A CVS store is set on fire during a riot following the funeral for Freddie Gray in Baltimore, Maryland, on April 27, 2015.
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Police take security measures during a riot following the funeral for Freddie Gray in Baltimore, Maryland, on April 27, 2015.
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Baltimore Police officers in riot gear stand in formation near protestors along Reisterstown Road near Mondawmin Mall, April 27, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. A group of young protestors clashed with police in the streets near Mondawmin Mall in the afternoon following Freddie Gray's funeral.
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Police interfere to the protesters during a riot following the funeral for Freddie Gray in Baltimore, Maryland, on April 27, 2015.
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Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake speaks in front of faith and community leaders at a news conference calling for peace in response to a Freddie Gray protest that turned violent, Sunday, April 26, 2015, at the Bethel AME Church in Baltimore. Gray died from spinal injuries about a week after he was arrested and transported in a police van.
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Demonstrators throw rocks at the police after the funeral of Freddie Gray on Monday, April 27, 2015, at New Shiloh Baptist Church in Baltimore. Gray died from spinal injuries about a week after he was arrested and transported in a Baltimore Police Department van.
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A mourner kisses Freddie Gray's casket before placing a rose on it at Gray's burial, Monday, April 27, 2015, at Woodlawn Cemetery in Baltimore. Gray died from spinal injuries about a week after he was arrested and transported in a Baltimore Police Department van.
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Baltimore Police officers confront protestors on Reisterstown Road near Mowdamin Mall, April 27, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. The funeral service for Freddie Gray, who died last week while in Baltimore Police custody, was held on Monday morning.
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A Baltimore Police officers in riot gear push protestors back along Reisterstown Road near Mondawmin Mall, April 27, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. A group of young protestors clashed with police in the streets near Mondawmin Mall in the afternoon following Freddie Gray's funeral.
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Baltimore Police Department officers stand behind a barrier while protestors gather near the Baltimore Police Department's Western District police station during a march and vigil over the death of Freddie Gray, April 21, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. Gray, 25, died from spinal injuries on April 19, one week after being taken into police custody.
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Baltimore resident Caira Byrd encourages passing cars to honk while she protests in the middle of York Road near Vaughn Greene Funeral Services during the wake of Freddie Gray, April 26, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. Funeral services for Gray, who died last April 16, while in police custody, will be held the morning of April 27, at New Shiloh Baptist Church.
A Baltimore police car was vandalized as protests turned violent on Monday, April 27 in Baltimore.
A car burns on the street and a CVS was looted in Baltimore on Monday, April 27, 2015.
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