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Christian Carter, 18, of East Liberty confronts a police officer during a rally in East Pittsburgh on Wednesday, June 20, 2018, to protest the shooting death of Antwon Rose by an East Pittsburgh police officer during a traffic stop.
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East Pittsburgh residents demand answers in 17-year-old's death

Steve Mellon/Post-Gazette

East Pittsburgh residents demand answers in 17-year-old's death

Dozens of activists gathered Wednesday outside the East Pittsburgh Police Department to protest the fatal police shooting of Antwon Rose, the 17-year-old killed Tuesday during a traffic stop in North Braddock.

Demonstrators stood in front of the station just before 6 p.m., holding signs and photos of Antwon, shouting his name and demanding answers about his death.

“If we don’t do it, ain’t nobody else out here going to do it for us,” 18-year-old Anyah Jackson said. “We’re not just going to let these people be out here murdering our children.”

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Outside the police station, people lined up along the sidewalk with their backs turned to officers positioned across the street.

Woodland Hills High School Homecoming Queen Ciara Turner waits for the start of the homecoming parade with her brother Julian Turner in Turtle Creek. Next to Ciara is a picture of her twin brother Jerame J. Turner, who was murdered on Nov.27 in Turtle Creek, where the family lives.
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“If they want to shoot us, make them do it in our backs,” one speaker shouted into a megaphone, referring to a video recording of the shooting posted on Facebook that showed two people running from police who fire shots.

The rally spilled into the streets and blocked traffic near the intersections of Electric and Braddock avenues, a couple of blocks from the police station. Protesters held their fists up and signs that said, “Justice4Antwon” and “End Police Violence Now.”

They included Cathy Welsh, the mother of 16-year-old Jerame Turner, who was killed in a shooting in Turtle Creek in late November.

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Ms. Welsh, who has been guiding Woodland Hills High School student activists since her son’s death last year, said this shooting impacted her family again. Antwon was her brother-in-law’s nephew, she said.

“I don’t understand it,” she said. “He wasn’t in the streets, ever. He was a good kid.”

The demonstration momentarily grew tense as an unmarked police vehicle drove through the crowd on Braddock Avenue, a dog barking from the back seat. Demonstrators surrounded the SUV and others sprawled out in front of the vehicle, staging what they called a “die-in.”

“I was born and raised in this city, and I shouldn’t be afraid to walk out the door,” 27-year-old Maya Randolph said.

Teacher Erin Wall, standing in center, consults with students during an 11th grade Advanced Placement English class at Woodland Hills High School on Feb. 12. With Ms. Wall are, from left, Mikala Jones, Rod Stubbs and Dahlia Sanders. One of Wall's former students, Antwon Rose, was shot and killed on June 19 by an East Pittsburgh police officer.
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After several hours, storms moved in. As rain fell, protesters sat in the middle of Braddock Avenue, police lights flashing behind them.

“Say his name,” they said. “Antwon!”

First Published: June 21, 2018, 3:21 a.m.

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Christian Carter, 18, of East Liberty confronts a police officer during a rally in East Pittsburgh on Wednesday, June 20, 2018, to protest the shooting death of Antwon Rose by an East Pittsburgh police officer during a traffic stop.  (Steve Mellon/Post-Gazette)
Leonard Hammonds II of Penn Hills points out that a Turtle Creek police officer has his had on his weapon during a rally in East Pittsburgh on Wednesday, June 20, 2018, to protest the shooting death of Antwon Rose by an East Pittsburgh police officer during a traffic stop.  (Steve Mellon/Post-Gazette)
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