Protesters Angry Over Woodland Hills Officer Incident Hold Rally

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A rally was held in downtown Pittsburgh on Friday.

It happened in front of the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office and finished up around noon.

A group about 50 people organized the event after a student was allegedly beaten by a police officer working for the Woodland Hills School District.

The student had a tooth knocked out in the encounter.

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Protesters want District Attorney Stephen Zappala to drop the charges against the student and they want to know why the officer has not been charged.

"We will no longer stand and allow the victims to be criminalized while the abusers go free," Resurrection Baptist Church Reverend Richard Freeman said.

"We have great concerns about the way justice is carried out, which is why were are standing here today," Unity Baptist Church Reverend Richard Wingfield said.

However, Zappala says the FBI and U.S. Attorney's Office are investigating whether the student's civil rights were violated:

"Both state and federal, are working on the situation in the Woodland Hills School District and any decisions involving child abuse will be based on the available evidence as well as any additional evidence developed during the investigation."

The group was also calling for charges to be brought against Woodland Hills Principal Kevin Murray, who is accused of threatening a 14-year-old.