Inthewakeofthe2015deathofFreddieGrayinpolicecustody,Baltimorewasacityontheedge.PeacefulprotestsanddestructiveriotseruptedintheimmediateaftermathofGray’sdeath,whilethecitywaitedtohearthefateofthesixpoliceofficersinvolvedintheincident,reflectingthedeepdivisionsbetweenauthoritiesandthecommunity--andunderscoringtheurgentneedforreconciliation.
　　DirectedbySonjaSohn(oneofthestarsoftheHBOseriesTheWire),BaltimoreRisingfollowsactivists,policeofficers,communityleadersandgangaffiliates,whostruggletoholdBaltimoretogether,evenasthehomicideratehitsrecordlevels,andexploreshowtomakechangewhenchangeishard.
　　ThestrifethatgripsBaltimorefollowingthedeathofFreddieGrayexposeslongstandingfaultlinesinadistraughtanddamagedcommunity.BaltimoreRisingchroniclesthedeterminedeffortsofpeopleonallsideswhofightforjusticeandworktomaketheircitybetter,sometimescomingtogetherinunexpectedways,discoveringacommonhumanitywherebeforetheyoftensaweachotheronlyasadversaries.
　　AmongthekeyfiguresspotlightedinBaltimoreRisingare:
　　Genard“Shadow”Barr(communityleader,formergangmember)isanaddictionrecoveryspecialistatthePenn-NorthRecoveryCenter,wherehealsohelpsorganizeareentryjobsprogramforcommunitymembers.BridgingthedividebetweenpoliceandresidentsofthePenn-Northarea,heworkswithallpartiestomitigateviolence.BarrisnowworkingtoopenanentrepreneurshipandjobtrainingcenterinWestBaltimore.
　　CommissionerKevinDavishasledtheBaltimorePoliceDepartmentsince2015.Hetookoverasinterimpolicecommissionerintheaftermathoftheuprisingandsurgingviolence,whenthemayorfiredpreviouscommissionerAnthonyBatts.AlifelongMarylander,CommissionerDavisisa25-yearveteranandfourth-generationpublicsafetyprofessional.Hewasfacedwithrepairingpublictrustinthedepartmentandstemmingarisingtideofhomicidesamidstthetrialsofhissixofficers.
　　MakaylaGilliam-Price(activist)foundedtheyouthjusticeorganizationCityBlocasahighschoolstudent.Shealsoorganizeswiththegrassrootsthink-tankLeadersofaBeautifulStruggle.
　　AdamJackson(activist)isCEOofthegrassrootsthink-tankLeadersofaBeautifulStruggle.HiseffortsareaimedatconnectingyoungpeopletopublicpolicyandcreatingtransformativechangeinBaltimore.
　　DayvonLove(activist),directorofpublicpolicyforLeadersofaBeautifulStruggle,hasdeepexperiencewithgrassrootsactivisminthecommunity.Hehasgivennumerousspeechesandledworkshopstogiveinsightintotheplightofitscitizens.
　　KwameRose(activist),anartist,writer,musicianandpublicspeaker,gainednotorietyduringtheuprisingthatfollowedFreddieGray’sdeathforhispublicconfrontationwithFOXNewsreporterGeraldoRivera.ArrestedduringprotestsoutsidethetrialsofthepoliceofficerschargedintheGraycase,herecentlyacceptedapositionintheofficeofBaltimoreMayorCatherinePugh.
　　Lt.ColonelMelvinRussell,chiefoftheCommunityPartnershipDivision,BaltimorePoliceDepartment,joinedTheBaltimorePoliceDepartment(BPD)in1979asapolicecadet.Heworkedasauniformpatrolandthenanundercoverofficerfor20yearsbeforebecominganEasternDistrictLieutenantin2007.RecentlyheledtheBPD’schaplaincyprogramandworkedcooperativelywithsuchcommunityleadersasGenard“Shadow”Barrtosupportareentryjobsprogramandpreventanotheruprisingduringthepoliceofficers’trialsintheGraycase.
　　DawnyellTaylor(policedetective)hasbeenwiththeBaltimoreCityPoliceformorethan16years.In2015and2016,shewastheleadinvestigatorintheFreddieGrayhomicidecase,andtestifiedatthetrialofOfficerCaesarGoodsonJr.,whowaschargedwithGray’smurder.TaylorcontinuestoserveinthepoliceacademyinBaltimore.
　　TheexecutiveproducersofBaltimoreRisingareSonjaSohn,MarcLevin,AnthonyHemingway,GeorgePelecanosandMarkTaylor;producer,NathanMook;supervisingproducers,DaphnePinkersonandKaraRozansky;directedbySonjaSohn.ForHBO:seniorproducer,NancyAbraham;executiveproducerSheilaNevins.