Baltimore Riots 2015: Freddie Gray Protesters, Police Gather As Curfew Nears

Less than an hour before Baltimore's emergency citywide curfew went into effect Wednesday night, reports out of the city indicated the streets were calm but police were preparing for more riots. The Baltimore Police Department, which has been chronicling protests sparked by the death of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old African-American, posted a message thanking people for donating food -- a far cry from polices messages posted Tuesday night before curfew, when activists were throwing rocks at officers.

Baltimore imposed a curfew earlier this week after rioters damaged stores and vehicles while demanding an end to police brutality. Residents must be at home from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. every night for the next week. Only people who are commuting to and from work at jobs deemed essential by the city are excused, according to the city's website.

At about 9 p.m. Wednesday, some demonstrators were gathering at the intersection of Pennsylvania and North avenues. Washington Post reporter Matt Zapotosky tweeted that uniformed police officers were nearby, as were National Guard members and their vehicles. Fox News host Geraldo Rivera was also present.

Earlier Wednesday in Baltimore, students had organized a nonviolent march from Penn Station to City Hall. Meanwhile, protests in solidarity elsewhere picked up. Thousands of people in New York swarmed the streets, marching from Union Square to Times Square. More than a dozen people were arrested in connection with the demonstration. In Washington, a group gathered in front of the White House.

You can watch CNN live streams of the protests in Baltimore, New York and Washington here.