The Harford County school system in Maryland has banned field trips to Baltimore indefinitely, citing safety concerns following the unrest over the death of Freddie Gray and the subsequent trials of police officers charged in his death.
City leaders have called the decision misguided and ill-informed, saying it denies Harford students cultural, educational, and recreational opportunities and reinforces some negative stereotypes about the city.
Gray’s death in April after being injured in the back of a police van spurred protests and rioting. The unrest resumed in December, when the trial of the first police officer charged in Gray’s death began. Some school systems cancelled trips to Baltimore during that time. Since then, all counties have lifted the prohibition except for Harford.
