Protesters Call For Mayor Peduto's Resignation After Arrest Of Protester In Oakland
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Between 150-200 protesters gathered outside of Mayor Bill Peduto's home on Sunday.
They are calling the arrest of a protester in Oakland on Saturday a kidnapping after his press conference with Pittsburgh Public Safety.
According to Pittsburgh Public Safety, protesters need to tell police what their protest routes will be.
The group of protesters in front of the mayor's home disagrees.
One of the protesters today said they shouldn't have to comply with their oppressors.
"You don't owe them any explanation," said one demonstrator to the crowd. "You are not supposed to comply with your oppressor."
The march began with speeches at Mellon Park and then they took to the streets.
At one point, protesters began chanting for the removal of Mayor Peduto with chants of, "hey, hey, ho, ho, Mayor Peduto has got to go."
Mayor Peduto expressed his concerns about the arrest at a press conference on Saturday.
Beth Pittinger is the Executive Director of the Independent Citizen Police Review Board in Pittsburgh.
She calls what public safety described as a "low-visibility" tactic to make the arrest.
"What they did was sneaky, it's questionable as to its legitimacy," she said. "You have officers in plainclothes in an unmarked vehicle. Those are not tactics to be used in the city of Pittsburgh."
Pittinger said that the review board falls in line with the position of the American Civil Liberties Union.
Local ACLU members have alos publicly critized the arrest tactic.
On Sunday afternoon former Allegheny County District Attorney candidate Lisa Middleman announced she was representing the man who was arrested.
In a tweet, she called the arrest dangerous and unconstitutional.
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