Some activists and elected officials are criticizing the New York Police Department’s handling of protests over the death of Freddie Gray, who was critically injured in police custody.

The critics say the NYPD was overly aggressive and at times violent.

Police Commissioner William Bratton said 143 people were arrested Wednesday night during a rally and march over the death of Freddie Gray, who suffered a severe spinal injury in the custody of Baltimore police. He later died.

Bratton said police would be “more assertive” than during December protests in the wake of the Eric Garner grand jury decision.

(AP)