The city of Baltimore has lifted a five-day curfew and government officials are planning to draw down a force of national guardsman, all stemming from the recent death and subsequent protests in the death of 25-year-old Freddie Gray while in police custody.

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake announced on Sunday the 10 p.m. curfew was being lifted effective immediately, adding it's her hope that the battle-scarred city will now be able to return to some form of normalcy.

"I have rescinded my order instituting a citywide curfew," she said in a statement. "My goal has always been to not have the curfew in place a single day longer than was necessary."

According to the Baltimore Sun, Rawlings-Blake added that the curfew has lingered throughout the week, including what would typically have been a busy Saturday night for city businesses, out of fear "protesters from outside Baltimore would turn demonstrations violent again."

Demonstrations have been ongoing across the city ever since Gray was pronounced dead of a broken neck he sustained while in police custody in early April. Top Baltimore District Attorney Marilyn Mosby announced last Friday that all six officers involved in Gray's arrest and take down will face charges ranging from second degree murder to involuntary manslaughter.

The curfew was put into effect before the announcement of formal charges against the officers and residents took to the streets in protests, some of which early on ended in violence and looting.

The curfew stipulated that all citizens be off the street between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., with youth required to clear out by 9 p.m.

"My number one priority in instituting a curfew was to ensure the public peace, safety, health and welfare of Baltimore citizens," Rawlings-Blake said. "It was not an easy decision, but one I felt was necessary to help our city restore calm."

Restaurant and bar owners immediately championed the decision, though some lamented it will almost be next to impossible to make up for all the lost time and revenues.