Peduto: City Will Be Prepared For March On Google

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PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - The City of Pittsburgh is preparing for a possible protest on Saturday. Pittsburgh is one of nine cities across the country where March On Google protests are planned.

The protests will be located in cities where Google has offices; Pittsburgh's Google offices are located in Bakery Square.

With the recent focus on the attack in Charlottesville, Virginia, the focus of the protest has taken a turn. After this past weekend's events in Charlottesville, the fear here is that the rallies could create rising tensions.

However, organizers of the March On Google are distancing themselves from the violence in Charlottesville. On their website, the group said it "condemns and disavows violence, hatred, and bigotry and all groups that espouse it such as White Nationalists, KKK, Antifa, and NeoNazis."

Infowars' Millie Weaver said through social media that she isn't coming to Pittsburgh because of threats of violence, she's encouraging others to stay away as well.

"This was designed to bring about awareness, to be a peaceful protest, but now it has been hijacked by these media outlets," Weaver said.

Meanwhile, Mayor Bill Peduto has been meeting with the city's Director of Public Safety and the Pittsburgh Police Chief ahead of the event. The mayor says the city will be prepared.

Mayor Peduto says, he recognizes the protestor's rights, but that their message isn't welcome in Pittsburgh.

"There is nothing that they say that represents anything good about this country, and nothing that they represent that is in anyway a part of Pittsburgh. I would recommend very strongly to them and to be crystal clear, you are not welcome here. We don't want you here, we don't believe in what you say, we don't believe in what you do. Your Constitutional rights are there, but there wont be anyone here to welcome you," Peduto said.The land in Bakery Square is private property, so the protest cannot be held there.

So far, no official protest permits have been issued for the March On Google, but there are still a few days for organizers to file. The protest is scheduled for Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Tuesday night a community event was held where residents talked about the possible protests.

Organized under the hashtag, "We are the majority," the community meeting at the Kingsley Association on Frankstown Road in Pittsburgh drew well over 100 people.

Organizers said it was a space for residents to voice concerns and talk about possible responses to the March on Google planned for for Saturday at Bakery Square.

After KDKA shot some footage from inside the meeting room. Most members of the media were asked to leave.

KDKA reporter Kym Gable asked organizer Daeja Baker about those restrictions.

"We wanted a space where people can feel they can speak up and say what they like to say. We know a lot of the most vulnerable communities don't get that platform," explained Baker. She said the meeting placed considerable focus on safety and awareness. If people do go out and want to protest, preparing them with knowing more about their civil rights and civil obedience and knowing how to protest peacefully."