With a few tense moments through confrontations with police and restaurant goers, Saturday night’s protest in East Liberty ended peacefully.
About 100 people met around 7 p.m. at the Target in East Liberty. Many were wearing pink, after coming from a protest known as “Civil Saturdays” that traveled through Downtown earlier in the afternoon.
The protest later on Saturday was intended to disrupt restaurant goers and residents around the area with their message of Black lives matter — and head to Mayor Bill Peduto’s house to address racial inequality starting with the charges filed against four protest leaders.
Back at Target pic.twitter.com/HHukEwstCx
— Lauren Lee (@lauren_llee) September 6, 2020
Protesters made their way through East Liberty, chanting “Out of the bars and into the streets,” as patrons dined outside at various restaurants.
Local activist Lorenzo Rulli held up his microphone, stating, “I got my instrument of crime,” a reference to his arrest on Aug. 21, when he led a standoff with police while using a megaphone in front of the mayor’s home.
Mr. Rulli faces three misdemeanor charges and told the crowd they were heading to Mr. Peduto’s house because of his arrest.
Before leaving Target, protest leader Nique Craft, who identifies as nonbinary, told the crowd the group will be a walking on one lane only, as the streets were initially not blocked off. “There’s no civil affairs, there’s no cops down the street to protect us. It’s just us,” they said.
As they weaved through East Liberty and Shadyside, protesters flashed lights into windows and restaurants. Craft stopped in front of one apartment building to address residents standing on their balconies why the group is here to disrupt.
“Four people were arrested just for doing exactly this,” they said.
Tensions rose when the group made their way to Mr. Peduto’s home, passing Pino’s Contemporary Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar in Point Breeze, where Craft said an employee allegedly told them to “go back to their own country.”
Once arriving at Mr. Peduto’s, protesters were met with about a half-dozen Pittsburgh Police officers standing in front of the mayor’s front door. The blinds were drawn at the windows in front of his house, and no lights seemed to be on in the rooms at the front of his house. The protesters stood and chanted in front of the home while regular uniformed police officers stood near the house at the top of the steps.
At one point, the officers put on protective helmets, and the protesters chanted, “I don’t see a riot here why are you in riot gear?”
They then marched back to Target to avoid violating a 10 p.m. noise ordinance, marching silently for a portion of the route. Shortly after reaching Target around 10:15 p.m., protesters dispersed.
Later in the night, Mr. Peduto addressed Saturday night’s protest in front of his house on Twitter. “Last time I sat on my porch & welcomed protestors w/ dialogue. They chose to end it,” Mr. Peduto said. “Together, we work w/ our Black Community to reimagine policing in our city. Pittsburgh remains open to any & all ideas to work together to create a better city.”
I lost my Mom in February. Last time, I sat on my porch & welcomed protestors w/ dialogue. They chose to end it.
— bill peduto (@billpeduto) September 6, 2020
Together, we work w/ our Black Community to reimagine policing in our city. Pittsburgh remains open to any & all ideas to work together to create a better city. https://t.co/MLL8aQK6wX
Lauren Lee: llee@post-gazette.com.
Correction, made at 12:25 p.m. Sept. 6: There is no curfew currently being enforced by the city. There is a 10 p.m. noise ordinance.
First Published: September 6, 2020, 3:11 a.m.
