Students march around city after Antwon Rose rally
Protesters demand change in wake of acquittal of former police officer
Shortly after 11 on Monday morning, about 100 students were gathered in front of the CityCounty Building, Downtown, to celebrate Antwon Rose II’s life when a line of police officers rode by on horses.
“Three shots in the back, how do you justify that?” they chanted, echoing the rallying cry that was shouted hundreds of times over the weekend in a series of demonstrations after former East Pittsburgh police Officer Michael Rosfeld was acquitted in Antwon’s killing.
Two hours later, the same group passed Grant Street, this time in the middle of a march around the Golden Triangle, in a mass estimated by many to be 1,000 strong. As the rain poured down, the students — who walked out of their classes earlier in the day to participate — chanted through the streets
in Downtown in what was by far the largest demonstration yet over the acquittal of Mr. Rosfeld. Mr. Rosfeld had been charged with homicide for shooting Antwon three times as the unarmed 17-year-old attempted to flee a felony traffic stop June 19.
“I think that today is more about the fight for justice, it’s a demand for change because this can’t just keep happening,” said Hailey Shevitz, a 15-year-old freshman at Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12 who got permission from her parents to attend the rally.
What started as a rally at the City-County Building made its way to the Allegheny County Courthouse, then coalesced into a guided march along Grant Street, onto
Liberty Avenue, back through the city and onto the Boulevard of the Allies before stopping in front of the Allegheny County Jail. The group’s presence prompted the warden to order a brief lockdown in the jail.
As the line made its way through the city, it was hard to see where the sea of students ended. At times, they formed human circles in intersections. Police closed off streets as the march continued.
In the front of the line was an altar-like memorial of Antwon, carried by a rotating cast of demonstrators. Some of the students held roses and chanted, “Black lives matter.”
As they marched down Grant, one of the leaders yelled, “How many students are here who skipped class to be here?” Almost all of them raised their hands.
“I’m in awe. It’s wonderful to see all these kids come together for this cause,” said Ashley Guiton, who walked out of her job in investments and stood alongside two coworkers on the corner of Wood Street and Fourth Avenue holding a flower in her hand.
As in other protests this past weekend, the demonstrators cited Antwon’s killing as evidence that the whole system needs to change. Dissatisfaction with Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr., whose office made the decision to charge Mr. Rosfeld and handled the unsuccessful prosecution, was a common unifier.
“How many of you are registered to vote?” a leader asked the crowd. The crowd cheered. Then, two chants: “Hey hey, ho ho, Stephen Zappala has got to go” and “Vote him out.”
Zymira Jackson and Tkeea Baker, eighth-graders from CAPA, weren’t interested in the politics.
“I’m not really into politics or anything, but I was upset,” Zymira said about Friday’s verdict.
As the massive crowd marched past the Wood Street T station, its gates were locked. The Port Authority said passengers would need to use the Gateway or Steel Plaza stations.
By that time, the rain had turned protesters’ signs to mush but didn’t discourage more from joining the march.
One sign was carried by a third-grader at the Kentucky Avenue School in Shadyside named Esme. It was a purple painting of Antwon that she made Monday morning that read, “This is why we kneel. #JusticeforAntwon.”
“We’re here to support our community and to fight against police brutality and to recognize Antwon,” her mom, Czarina Kulick, said. “I think if Pittsburgh wants to remain progressive, they can’t deny what’s happening and look at the work that still needs to be done. As a social worker in the community, it’s very important for me to show up.”
Organizers stressed to participants that the rally should remain peaceful. According to Pittsburgh Public Safety spokesman Chris Togneri, there were no incidents and no arrests. One student was transported by medics
When the march made its way to the jail, the students took turns speaking to the group. Some cheered and waved up at the prison windows, where lights were flickering on and off in recognition of the crowd.
Though the march was driven by a specific event — Mr. Rosfeld’s acquittal — its goals were broad. Prior to the event, Rebecca Rovins, an organizer of the rally and an undergraduate student at Carnegie Mellon University, said in a statement, “It is only through solidarity between students and teachers, youth and workers, and through uniting the struggles of all oppressed people that we can build a movement to build a better Pittsburgh and a better world free of racism, white supremacy, and all violence and injustice.”
Ms. Rovins said students from more than a dozen schools attended the march: CAPA, Taylor Allderdice, Brashear, Perry, Obama, SciTech, Winchester Thurston, Penn Hills, West Mifflin, Steel Valley, Woodland Hills, Environmental Charter School, Langley, Westinghouse, Westinghouse Academy of the Arts Charter School, City High, Community College of Allegheny County, University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University and Point Park University.
Students at Pittsburgh Public Schools were required to get permission from their parents to participate in the walkouts and follow the district’s early dismissal procedures, superintendent Anthony Hamlet said this weekend. The district intended to have support available for any “difficult conversation that may arise with students as a result of the outcome of the jury’s decision,” he added.
“It is critical that we help our students find their voice during this challenging time,” Mr. Hamlet said. “We know that the death of Antwon Rose, the jury’s decision, the reactions of the community, and coverage in the news media can be confusing, and at times frightening for our young people — many of whom see themselves, family members and friends in Antwon. It is our responsibility to process this moment with our students in a way that honors not only their emotions but their abilities to impact change in our community. We are committed to this charge.”