Shouting such chants as “save our children, save our community” and “no justice, no peace,” a crowd of about 50 gathered in front of City Hall on Monday in protest of a 7-year-old’s arrest last week.

Carrying signs and fliers, the demonstrators demanded the firing of Police Commissioner Leonard Hamm and a personal apology to the mother of Gerard Mungo Jr., the boy who was handcuffed and interrogated by city police last week for allegedly sitting on a dirt bike on a city sidewalk. All charges against the boy have been dropped.

“We will stay out here as long as it takes,” said Mungo’s aunt, a woman who referred to herself only as “Big Mama.”

“Our case is not the first case, and we are out here to recognize civil rights,” she said.

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Mungo’s family was joined by community organizers, activists, religious leaders and the occasional bystanders.

Bishop Carl Montgomery, of the Greater Grace Harvest Church of Baltimore City, said he came to the protest “in support of the young people in the black community and their parents.”

“Gerard is a symbol for broader problems, and the situation is an indicator of an ongoing problem in the black community,” Montgomery said.

Others agreed.

“It was wrong to drag him off that bike, because that boy was innocent, he didn’t know any better,” said Aaron Allen, 40, of Baltimore City.

Though he was not originally part of the protest, Allen said he stayed because “the whole situation hurts him.”

“Police need to keep their hands off people’s children,” Allen said.

Although Mayor Sheila Dixon issued a public apology last Friday, Montgomery called the action an “insult.”

“Public leaders have the responsibility to step to the front line and help bring resolve to these issues.”

Also protesting was the mother of Kevin Cooper, the 14-year-old shot to death by a police officer in his home last year.

Mark Willis, 45, a resident of Baltimore City, said he was protesting for both the Mungo and Cooper situations.

“Police injustice is an ongoing problem, and people need to realize it’s not a myth,” Willis said. “Police are violating constitutional amendments.”

Despite a slow start to the protest, which was set to begin at 4 p.m., by 5 p.m. a larger group moved from the War Memorial to the sidewalk in front of City Hall.However, despite a loud presence, some bystanders didn’t think the protest would garner the results the organizers sought.

“What is going to change? These things happen every day,” said Danny Gibbs, 45, of Baltimore City who watched the demonstration. “Nothing’s going to change, even though things like this can mess up a child for life.”