Protesters Step Off From Bloomfield's Friendship Park, March Through East End As Some West Penn Hospital Workers Show Support
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Protesters began gathering in Friendship Park in Bloomfield Friday for a demonstration the the city's East End over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
The crowd of several hundred people began gathering around noon, with the march kicking off at 12:30 p.m.
"We will not be doing anything to put our families at risk. Our message is to have a non-violent rebellion," said one of the protest organizers.
#DEVELOPING A Black Lives Matter Protest is about to get underway in Friendship Park in Bloomfield. More details coming up at noon on @KDKA pic.twitter.com/O7VNfZe1WY
— Nicole Ford (@NicoleFordTV) June 5, 2020
As the protesters gathered, some doctors, staff and other health care workers came out of nearby West Penn Hospital in a show of support. They had signs and joined the national movement to kneel for eight minutes and 46 seconds in solidarity.
#RIGHT NOW Outside West Penn Hospital healthcare workers are joining the national movement to kneel for 8 minutes and 46 seconds in solidarity. @KDKA pic.twitter.com/rEKjaHgBDE
— Nicole Ford (@NicoleFordTV) June 5, 2020
On the move, the protesters began heading down Liberty Avenue first, chanting "Black Lives Matter."
Hundreds of protestors now on the move out of Friendship Park headed towards Lawrenceville. @KDKA pic.twitter.com/12qa2DXH36
— Nicole Ford (@NicoleFordTV) June 5, 2020
ALERT: A group of protesters that started in Friendship Park has moved into Shadyside and is currently sitting on Walnut Street. Police are blocking traffic in area for their safety. All is peaceful. pic.twitter.com/4MAdtvIb52
— Pgh Public Safety (@PghPublicSafety) June 5, 2020
As the crowd moved down Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh Police blocked off several streets around the area for safety. Rolling closures were put in place as the march made its way around the city.
Protest organizers brought in safety workers to flank the crowd. They are wearing safety vests and have medical supplies. Organizers told the crowd before the march started "there would be help on all sides, just look for a safety vest if needed."
Again today Pittsburgh Police have several intersections blocked off from traffic in all directions as the crowd moves down Liberty. @KDKA pic.twitter.com/NU8e5LKZQH
— Nicole Ford (@NicoleFordTV) June 5, 2020
People with safety vests and medical supplies are flanking the crowd. The organizers told the crowd before the march started there would be help on all sides, just look for a safety vest if needed. @KDKA pic.twitter.com/mompNuuRDd
— Nicole Ford (@NicoleFordTV) June 5, 2020
The crowd stopped to chant at the intersection of Liberty Avenue and Baum Boulevard, then made the turn towards Fifth Avenue into Shadyside as they got started again.
In Shadyside, the crowd marched down busy Walnut Street, going against the flow of traffic. They staged a sit-in in the middle of the business district.
Crowd has now turned onto Walnut Street going the opposite flow of traffic on this one way street. Chants continuing and protestors are still moving at a fast pace. @KDKA pic.twitter.com/A624ElvJbV
— Nicole Ford (@NicoleFordTV) June 5, 2020
The crowd sat for eight minutes 46 seconds, the time Floyd was held down in the video.
"Another reason for coming out here is just feeling so helpless," protester Kimberly Hoover said. "It feels so cathartic to just scream in the air, because who are you suppose to scream at when you have no power to, like, actually make the changes."
Hoover tells KDKA the group walked through some of the city's nicest neighborhoods and business districts. She says it was empowering to see the business owners and customers step outside to chant along with them as they passed.
Crowd sat on the street in Shadyside for 8 minutes 46 seconds. Now are standing and chanting #BreonnaTaylor @KDKA pic.twitter.com/nNPow2ccFQ
— Nicole Ford (@NicoleFordTV) June 5, 2020
As the crowd started marching again, they headed toward East Liberty. Police blocked off Fifth Avenue as the crowd began slowing in speed and chanting.
The protesters then splintered, but a large majority headed onto Beechwood Boulevard in Point Breeze, stopping a few times to discuss the change the organizers say is needed in Pittsburgh. They congregated on Lyndhurst Green for food and water due to the humid day.
The crowd has now stopped at a park in Point Breeze for water and snacks. @KDKA pic.twitter.com/V7kTIi7k4y
— Nicole Ford (@NicoleFordTV) June 5, 2020
Group turned onto Beechwood Blvd and is congregating now at Lyndhurst Green. https://t.co/VCkZwKx0TL
— Pgh Public Safety (@PghPublicSafety) June 5, 2020
The crowd took a break, sitting in the park, holding signs.
At the corner of Reynolds St and Beechwood Blvd. @KDKA pic.twitter.com/S4OiWLTPmS
— Nicole Ford (@NicoleFordTV) June 5, 2020
They laid a memorial to Breonna Taylor in the park, on what would have been her birthday. The emergency medical worker was shot and killed by police inside her home earlier this year.
This memorial is what the crowd was gathered around in the Point Breeze Park. Group on the move again on Reynolds Street. @KDKA pic.twitter.com/gv9siFQEId
— Nicole Ford (@NicoleFordTV) June 5, 2020
The protesters then headed into Point Breeze where they chanted and sat down along Hastings Street.
They also laid out some demands to the city. They say no more curfew, no more arrests and school funding. There were 10 demands in total.
Organizers laying out their demands and what they want from the city. They say no more curfew, no more arrests, fund schools and not police. There were 10 demands in total. @KDKA pic.twitter.com/JwNAyvTj5d
— Nicole Ford (@NicoleFordTV) June 5, 2020
After marching about four miles, and several sit-ins, the protest finally started dispersing around 3 p.m.
#BREAKING Crowd has dispersed and the protest is now over. Organizers asked that people walk back to their cars safely. We are about 4 miles from where we started. @KDKA pic.twitter.com/m41Ay4pwoM
— Nicole Ford (@NicoleFordTV) June 5, 2020
The entire march remained peaceful.
Protests have been happening all week across the city and Southwestern Pennsylvania in support of George Floyd and his family, and the Black Lives Matter Movement.
One of three memorial services was held for Floyd on Thursday in Minneapolis. The officers involved in his death have all been charged.
Stay with KDKA for all the latest on this developing story.
