Some long, but fast moving lines for Prince merchandise outside of the ahead of the concert.
— Rahul Bali (@rahulbali) The doors are open at for the concert with .
— Rahul Bali (@rahulbali) WASHINGTON — 鈥淭he system is broken. It’s going to take the young people to fix it this time. We need new ideas, new life鈥ew peace,鈥� said Prince, speaking near the end of a more than two-hour show at the Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore on Sunday.
During a performance of 鈥淧urple Rain,鈥� Prince continued, addressing the youth in attendance, saying that when he comes back to Baltimore, he wants to stay in 鈥渁 hotel owned by you,鈥� and to play 鈥渋n an arena owned by you.鈥�
The concert, billed as the “Rally 4 Peace,” was that and much more.聽 It was less about talk and more about the music, as Prince took the audience on a trip through his career while highlighting the recent unrest in Baltimore.
Four songs in, he unveiled his new song, 鈥�,鈥� and brought out State鈥檚 Attorney Marilyn Mosby to the loud cheering of the crowd.聽 Mosby, attending the show with her husband Councilman Nick Mosby as a Mother鈥檚 Day gift, didn鈥檛 speak but waved to the crowd before returning to her seat.
The family of Freddie Gray was also seen onstage at one point, and reportedly Michael Brown and Eric Garner鈥檚 mothers were in attendance as well.
Special guests who performed with Prince included Doug E. Fresh, Miguel and Estelle, who helped with vocals on an emotional 鈥淧urple Rain.鈥�
Upon entering the arena, concertgoers were informed that once the show started, not only was there to be no photography or recording, but no technology use, including cellphones, tablets and selfie sticks.聽 Most heeded the warning, but plenty of pictures and videos found their way onto social media during the show and after it concluded.聽 Some arena staff were seen removing people who dared to take video of the concert, or confiscated their cellphones.
However, even Prince let down his guard toward the end of the concert, when he told the audience聽to 鈥渢ake your cell phones out and light this place up!鈥�
Mixed messages aside, people had time to focus on the show and issues at hand. Unity was seen throughout the show, as all races and ages came together to dance, sing and, while waiting for one of the many encores, chant 鈥渘o curfew.鈥澛� The latter caused one to declare 鈥溾�t鈥檚 amazing. Folks are chanting it like at a protest.鈥�
When Mosby was brought out, one woman in the crowd remarked, 鈥淭his is what it鈥檚 all about. 鈥� Not all police are bad.聽 This isn鈥檛 about race 鈥� the race of the officers involved proves that … this is about coming together.鈥�
For one night at least, it seemed Baltimore did.
Hear Prince’s news song:
