Baltimore Riots Shut Down Baseball, Businesses, Schools

Baltimore is struggling to return to normal following a night of violence, with schools and other key parts of city life shut down.

The city’s Major League Baseball team, the Baltimore Orioles, used social media to announce its second game postponement Tuesday, after canceling a game Monday night against the Chicago White Sox.

«After consultation with MLB & state & local officials, tonight’s game between the Orioles & the White Sox at Oriole Park has been postponed,» said the Orioles’ official Twitter account.

Nearby Security Square Mall also chose to shutter itself, amid what TheBaltimore Sun newspaper described as social media rumors of another planned «purge.»  On Monday night, businesses were looted and set on fire, as protests over the death of a young African-American man in police custody turned violent.

Baltimore city schools had announced their own Tuesday closure late Monday, saying the move was taken to ensure students’ safety and comply with an imposed daytime curfew for youth.

Major universities, including Johns Hopkins and the University of Maryland, were also forced to cancel classes and activities in the city as a result of the riots.

The hashtag #CleanUpBaltimore was circulating on social media Tuesday as people gathered to pick up trash and help the city recover.

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake issued a tweet saying, «I sincerely want to thank all those out there cleaning up streets and sharing their love for #OurCity.  Thank you, Baltimore!»