Protesters Gather In Downtown Pittsburgh For Protest As George Floyd's Memorial Service Gets Underway In Minneapolis
PITTSBURGH (KDKA/AP) -- Hundreds of protesters gathered in downtown Pittsburgh today for another demonstration in response to the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
They began gathering along Liberty Avenue at Wood Street at 2 p.m.
A crowd is gathering downtown at the corner of Liberty Ave and Wood St. @KDKA pic.twitter.com/0HPaVXv5jc
— Nicole Ford (@NicoleFordTV) June 4, 2020
Some chanting, others holding signs. Chants of "George Floyd" and "No justice, no peace" were heard ringing out from the crowd.
Part of Liberty Avenue was shut down first, as rolling closures were expected as the march heads through the city.
BREAKING: Crowds are now shutting down Liberty Avenue in Pittsburgh with chants. "George Floyd, what was his name? George Floyd. No justice, no peace." @KDKA pic.twitter.com/sJkOHx3oMF
— Nicole Ford (@NicoleFordTV) June 4, 2020
The protesters held a sit-in along a stretch of the road as Pittsburgh Police monitored the situation. Motorcycle officers remain stationed nearby as the march moves.
Crowds are now sitting in a circle at the next intersection with organizers in the middle talking through a megaphone. @KDKA pic.twitter.com/lNJtUVwMBl
— Nicole Ford (@NicoleFordTV) June 4, 2020
From there, the protesters marched to the Allegheny County Jail, where a protest took place Tuesday.
On their way, they chanted along Smithfield Street and had a sit-in along Third Avenue.
On the move —> Protesters say they are heading to the jail. @KDKA pic.twitter.com/VsKSdDClX8
— Nicole Ford (@NicoleFordTV) June 4, 2020
#NOW Crowd is seated again on Smithfield from Third Avenue to the Boulevard of the Allies. We are told end goal is the jail. @KDKA pic.twitter.com/o3pKNrZVjM
— Nicole Ford (@NicoleFordTV) June 4, 2020
From Smithfield, they made the turn to the Boulevard of the Allies, and then onto Grant Street.
Now on Grant Street. @KDKA pic.twitter.com/RyXMroZ69w
— Nicole Ford (@NicoleFordTV) June 4, 2020
Crowd is so large many are already outside the jail stretching down Second Avenue. Police officers still following from the back. @KDKA pic.twitter.com/eBcxMeYkhk
— Nicole Ford (@NicoleFordTV) June 4, 2020
On Second Avenue in front of the jail, rain started to fall on the protesters as they laid down in the streets, some with their hands up, and fell silent.
Crowd is now silent and laying in the roadway ... creating a powerful image. https://t.co/bIbhwsKzbR
— Pgh Public Safety (@PghPublicSafety) June 4, 2020
Silence as protestors lay in the middle of Second Avenue outside the county jail. @KDKA pic.twitter.com/yTnj5e5V3q
— Nicole Ford (@NicoleFordTV) June 4, 2020
The protesters hung a banner with Floyd's face painted on it along a fence outside the jail. They then took turns putting their hand prints on it.
Banner is now up with George Floyd's face painted on a fence outside the jail and protestors are now putting their handprint onto the banner with red paint. @KDKA pic.twitter.com/94yUr8ZLpt
— Nicole Ford (@NicoleFordTV) June 4, 2020
On the move from the jail, the protesters crossed 10th Street Bridge, nearly stretching the length of the span, heading into the South Side.
Better photo of the group stretching onto the bridge. @KDKA pic.twitter.com/2tu5HkS1G6
— Nicole Ford (@NicoleFordTV) June 4, 2020
Protestors have cleared the 10th Street bridge and are turning onto E Carson Street. @KDKA pic.twitter.com/IcNbfQlgmo
— Nicole Ford (@NicoleFordTV) June 4, 2020
Along East Carson Street, the protesters stopped for another sit-in demonstration. The large protest took up about two blocks of the usually busy road.
Protesters began chanting Antwon Rose's name as they sat in the middle of the road.
#NOW Protestors are now chanting "Antwon Rose" sitting in the middle of E Carson Street in Southside. @KDKA pic.twitter.com/oYDSB0Jv6d
— Nicole Ford (@NicoleFordTV) June 4, 2020
As the protesters rallied downtown and on the South Side, mourners gathered at North Central University in Minneapolis for the first of three funeral events for Floyd.
From there, they marched over the Birmingham Bridge as storm clouds began rolling into the city.
Now heading across Birmingham Bridge. @KDKA pic.twitter.com/X15mhF9zG6
— Nicole Ford (@NicoleFordTV) June 4, 2020
Storms are rolling in as protestors are about halfway across the Birmingham Bridge. Appears crowd is heading to Oakland. @KDKA pic.twitter.com/qnljLc9vui
— Nicole Ford (@NicoleFordTV) June 4, 2020
The storm is here. A severe thunderstorm warning was just issued for all of Allegheny County until 6 p.m. The crowd is at the end of Birmingham Bridge now. Be prepared for severe weather conditions. https://t.co/9etQJieo7o
— Pgh Public Safety (@PghPublicSafety) June 4, 2020
As the rain moved in, the march moved onto Fifth Avenue and heading in direction of downtown through Uptown.
The protest ended shortly before 6:00 p.m. near where it started.
The Rev. Al Sharpton was among those to eulogize the 46-year-old Floyd.
Demonstrations in cities across the U.S. and across the globe continue in the wake of his death. In the U.S., protests were largely calmer for a second straight night after new charges against police in Minneapolis were announced.
Stay with KDKA for the latest on this developing story.
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