Nate Hamilton, Tory Lowe speak out on Baltimore: There are more productive ways to vent frustration

BALTIMORE/MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Police in Baltimore said late Tuesday, April 28th on Twitter they were making arrests at one location, where they said people threw bricks and rocks at officers. Protesters were still on the streets despite a curfew that took effect at 10:00 p.m. Police were working to enforce that curfew. This, after a violent Monday in Baltimore. Cars and building were burned. Police were hospitalized, businesses were looted, and hundreds of people were arrested. This violence occurred on the same day a funeral was held for 25-year-old Freddie Gray, who died while in police custody.

Dontre Hamilton

In Milwaukee, Gray's death and the ensuing protests in Baltimore have been hard to watch for the family of Dontre Hamilton.

31-year-old Hamilton was shot and killed nearly one year ago by former Milwaukee Police Officer Christopher Manney in Red Arrow Park.

Dontre Hamilton's brother Nate and community activist Tory Lowe spoke out about the violence and destruction in Baltimore on Tuesday. Both men say they understand the frustration in Baltimore, but they agree there are better ways to vent that frustration.

Nate Hamilton admits his "Coalition for Justice" has resorted to civil disobedience and "minor disruptions," but he says that violence isn't the way to bring about change that is so badly needed.

Both he and Tory Lowe say there are larger issues here.

"What you're seeing in Baltimore is an issue of the people and the police and it took one incident for that bomb to blow off," Lowe said.

"We can't have police brutality and we can't have community violence. But there's economics that fall into place. There's so many underlying things that need to be done so we can solidify a better society," Nate Hamilton said.

Lowe says everyone is invited to a "Pray for Baltimore" event scheduled for Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. in front of the Martin Luther King Jr. statue at 3rd and Walnut.