The nation patiently listened as a young African-American woman handed down charges to six Baltimore police officers who were involved in the brutal April 12 arrest of 25-year-old African American Freddie Gray, who later died from his injuries. This decision, for many, was a sign of hope for justice, especially after seeing the killers of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown walk away free and clear.
Her name is Marilyn Mosby, and now many are asking just who is she?
Shortly after being elected chief prosecutor in January, Baltimore City State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby said prosecutors in her hometown had the "toughest job in America."
Young and In Charge
Mosby is just 35 years old, and before becoming the youngest chief prosecutor in any district, she was working as a lawyer for an insurance company. She had, however, served five years as an assistant state’s attorney, according to the Huffington Post.
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As for her law enforcement background, Mosby told the members of the Baltimore PD, “I come from five generations of law enforcement. My father was an officer. My mother was an officer…My recently departed and beloved grandfather was one of the founding members of the first Black police organization in Massachusetts.”
“I know that the majority of police officers are really hard-working officers who are risking their lives day in and day out, but those really bad ones who go rogue do a disservice to the officers who are risking their live and taking time away from their families…People who have zero regard for human life do not deserve to live among the residents of the greatest city in the world,” NBC News quoted Mosby as saying.
"She's a strong woman," her husband Nick Mosby told CNN. "She was built for this ... I was at church service the other day and they were talking about being at the right place with the right person at the right time. I know her heart has always been convicted to ensure that justice will be served fairly and equally across the board."
Cousin's death brought exposure to criminal justice system
During her campaign, Mosby spoke about the broad-daylight shooting death of her 17-year-old cousin on her front doorstep. Her cousin was shot and killed by another 17-year-old when he was mistaken for a drug dealer.
"I learned very early on that the criminal justice system isn't......isn't just the police, the judges and the state's attorney," she said. "It's much more than that. I believe that we are the justice system. We, the members of the community, are the justice system because we are the victims of crimes."
Mosby said her cousin's 1994 murder was her first introduction to the criminal justice system.
"Having to go to court and deal with prosecutors," she said. "Having to go to court and see my neighbor who had the courage and audacity to cooperate with the police ... to testify in court and the way the district attorney's office treated my family is something that inspired me."
At the age of 6, Mosby was accepted in a school desegregation program in Massachusetts. She later participated in a study of the civil rights movement.
"After having that awesome experience I knew I wanted to be an attorney," she said during her campaign.
She is the mother of two daughters and the wife of a Baltimore city councilman. Mosby graduated from Tuskegee University.
“At the end of the day I’m here to do my job. It’s about applying justice fairly and equally to those with and without a badge.”
