Angry demonstrators confront city officials during protest at Downtown intersection
At issue: new guidelines on public gatherings
A Downtown protest over the police shooting of Antwon Rose II turned tense Friday after a group of protesters surrounded two high-ranking public safety officials and shouted questions, complaints and obscenities at the pair.
The protesters closed in around Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich and police Chief Scott Schubert on the sidewalk at the corner of Grant Street and Forbes Avenue about noon.
The crowd angrily confronted them for several minutes, with some protesters shouting into bullhorns inches from the officials’ faces. Chief Schubert and Director Hissrich were backed against a guardrail.
“That’s not going to work,” Director Hissrich said to one protester as she screamed into a bullhorn in front of him.
Many of the protesters took issue with the city’s new guidelines for public protests, released Thursday, that forbid protesters from blocking key intersections and streets, especially during rush hour.
“[You] put further restrictions on people who are peacefully protesting against an oppressive system,” protester Nicky Jo Dawson shouted, adding later, “You’re very cocky and arrogant and ignorant right now.”
Chief Schubert remained silent during the exchange, while Director Hissrich attempted to speak with the protesters a few times, although the protesters often shouted him into silence.
At one point, the director told Ms. Dawson that her bullhorn was a weapon. He also told the protesters to file complaints with the city’s Office of Municipal Investigations, to which one woman in the crowd screamed, “We’re filing our complaint right now!”
Friday’s rally was organized by the Alliance for Police Accountability and 1Hood Media.
About 10:30 a.m., five of the protesters walked inside the Allegheny County Courthouse and tried to speak with District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr., who did not meet with them.
Protester Christian Carter then read a letter to Mr. Zappala that called for the district attorney to make sure that jury selection is conducted fairly for the case against East Pittsburgh police Officer Michael Rosfeld, who fatally shot Antwon.