'The People's Protester,' Lorenzo Rulli, Surrenders To Police, Facing Charges
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - A man who calls himself "The People's Protester" was taken into police custody and later released after surrendering on Wednesday morning.
Dozens of supporters stood and waited near the Allegheny County Jail for Lorenzo Rulli as he surrendered. They call him a "freedom fighter."
HAPPENING NOW— Supporters of Lorenzo Rulli standing together. He's known as the "People's Protestor" turning himself in to police this morning. @KDKA pic.twitter.com/Y2yQAe31L0
— Lindsay Ward (@LindsayWardTV) July 22, 2020
Rulli is known for being active in protests and for his support of the Black Lives Matter movement, but now he is facing some serious charges.
Rulli, legally known as Shawn Green, spoke to the crowd outside of Municipal Court.
"We're not fighting a system for one person or one race, it's just a system set against us," Rulli said.
Rulli was arraigned Wednesday morning for his involvement in a protest in May and two protests in June. He posted on Facebook that he is out of jail and home.
Authorities have filed charges against Rulli in connection with a protest on May 30. The 24-year-old is currently facing rioting, reckless endangerment and failure to disperse counts, including felony charges.
KDKA photojournalist Ian Smith was covering the protest with reporter Paul Martino when a police vehicle was set on fire. Smith was recording the incident when he says a large group of people surrounded him, grabbed and smashed his camera, and attacked him.
Smith told police that Rulli livestreamed the attack and in that stream, could hear Rulli saying, "Stop that cameraman. Stop that cameraman."
On June 1, a KDKA crew was covering a protest in East Liberty on Centre Avenue. In the complaint, police say Rulli is seen on video, shot by KDKA, trying to block our crew as they recorded a man smashing the windows of a Dollar Bank. Police later arrested Rulli after he went to West Penn Hospital to get checked out for an arm injury.
On June 24, the complaint says Rulli was involved in a protest that took place outside of 941 Saloon on Liberty Avenue. The protest was organized due to a new dress code put in place by the bar. Protestors rushed the bar, preventing everyone inside from getting out. Some protesters were screaming threatening messages to employees and security guards.
Police say Rulli was one of those protesters, spotted on video. They say Rulli was also seen damaging a parked security vehicle nearby.
Rulli is due back in court for his preliminary hearing on July 28.
