PHILADELPHIA — Several hundred people gathered at City Hall in Philadelphia to protest Freddie Gray’s police-custody death in Baltimore and raise concerns about police and community relations in their own city.

Chants of “No justice, no peace,” and “Black lives matter” filled Dilworth Plaza late Thursday as news helicopters hover overhead. Several dozen uniformed police officers stood guard while plainclothes officers patrolled nearby.

Damon Johnson, a veteran and former city employee, spoke up at the rally about the country’s spending priorities.

“Why would you cut after-school programs and build a juvenile jail?” he asked the crowd.

Some at the Philadelphia rally raised concerns about the December death of Brandon Tate-Brown, who was fatally shot by police. Police have said he was reaching in his car for a gun when an officer shot him.