If the city’s most outspoken activists gave Gregg Bernstein a honeymoon period after being sworn in earlier this month as Baltimore’s new top prosecutor, it appears to be over.
Two groups of loosely-affiliated community organizations and special interests protested on opposite sides of the Mitchell Courthouse downtown on Monday, accusing Bernstein of being tight-lipped on a racially-charged assault case and criticizing his "unholy" alliance with the Police Department.
On the west side, protesters formed a picket line, invoking the shooting of Officer William H. Torbit Jr. and carrying signs with such incendiary slogans as "Arrogant Racist State’s Attorney."
On the east side, people who said they represent black media and civil rights groups called on Bernstein to say more about his office’s decision to drop felony assault charges against a member of a Jewish community patrol group.
"’No comment’ will not suffice in the African American community," said Hassan Giordano, a blogger, talk show host and campaign consultant.
Bernstein, who defeated 15-year incumbent Patricia C. Jessamy in last year’s Democratic primary election, had been supported by Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld III, who said a better relationship with prosecutors would help keep violent repeat offenders off the street.
Two high-profile and controversial cases are testing his public mettle early. Read more here.
