More calls for justice for Antwon Hundreds close East Liberty intersection to demand action in killing
About 300 people gathered in East Liberty on Sunday afternoon and shut down the intersection of North Highland and Penn avenues to demand that authorities take more action following the fatal police shooting of 17-year-old Antwon Rose II.
The protesters shut down the intersection for about two hours and then a smaller contingent of people marched around the block, singing and chanting, and at one point blocking the intersection of North Highland Avenue and Station Street. The action began at noon and ended by 3 p.m.
It was followed in the evening by a prayer service for social justice held by faith leaders and community organizers from around Pittsburgh at Mount Ararat Baptist Church in Larimer.
Organizers barred members of the news media from attending because, they said, the event was a prayer service, not a protest.
Some of those who attended said afterward that the service was about more than the killing of Antwon, who died June 19 after being shot by an East Pittsburgh police officer during a traffic stop. They said faith leaders spoke a little about peacefully protesting the killing but focused more on the broader notions of unity and justice.
Different Pittsburgh-area ministers prayed for different things, they said: one for peace, another for the church, another for equality, another for love.
“It was a great example of different voices from around the community,” said Thomas Scuoteguazza, a deacon at Mount Ararat. “Everyone came together.”