Baltimore Riots
Demonstrators jump on a damaged Baltimore police department vehicle during clashes in Baltimore, Maryland April 27, 2015. Several Baltimore police officers were injured on Monday in violent clashes with young people after the funeral of a black man, Freddie Gray, who died in police custody, and local law enforcement warned of a threat by gangs. Reuters

The creator and several cast members of hit HBO series The Wire have called for an end to the anarchy in Baltimore.

David Simon, the creator of the television series based on Baltimore Police Department and shot in and around the Maryland City, slammed the riots and violence, triggered by the police custody death of black man Freddie Gray as "selfishness".

"The anger and the selfishness and the brutality of those claiming the right to violence in Freddie Gray's name needs to cease," he wrote on his blogpost entitled The Audacity of Despair.

The 55-year-old screenwriter, who was once a reporter for the Baltimore Sun, went on to accuse those destroying the community of dishonoring Gray's memory.

"Here was real power and potential in the peaceful protests that spoke in Mr. Gray's name initially, and there was real unity at his homegoing today. But this, now, in the streets, is an affront to that man's memory and a dimunition of the absolute moral lesson that underlies his unnecessary death.

"If you can't seek redress and demand reform without a brick in your hand, you risk losing this moment for all of us in Baltimore. Turn around. Go home. Please."

Actors Andre Royo, Wendell Piece and Tray Chaney also took to Twitter to speak out against the unrest, which first unfolded on 27 April, on the same day as the funeral of 25-year-old Gray, who died from injuries sustained while in police custody.

A spokesman for the Baltimore City Police confirmed that 15 officers have been injured in the unrest with two still being treated in hospital after being hit by "flying debris".

Pierce, who played detective Bunk Moreland on the show, said that the individuals that were rioting and attacked police officers were not protesters but opportunists.

Meanwhile, Governor Larry Hogan has declared a state of emergency and the city mayor Stephanie Rawling-Blake has placed the city under a curfew in as bid to curb the violence.

Newly confirmed US Attorney General Loretta Lynch condemn the demonstrations, calling them "senseless acts of violence".

"In the days ahead, I intend to work with leaders throughout Baltimore to ensure that we can protect the security and civil rights of all residents," Lynch said. "And I will bring the full resources of the Department of Justice to bear in protecting those under threat, investigating wrongdoing, and securing an end to violence."

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