About 300 Protesters March To Mayor Bill Peduto's Home After Arrest Of Demonstrator
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Hundreds of protesters marched to Mayor Bill Peduto's home, calling for his resignation after plainclothes police officers arrested a man and put him in an unmarked van.
It started when the protesters gathered at Penn and Centre avenues Tuesday evening. On the way to the mayor's house, the Black Lives Matter protesters chanted "Mayor Peduto has got to go" as they moved through the East End.
WATCH: KDKA's Lisa Washington Reports
Before reaching the mayor's house at around 7:30 p.m., the group walked down Centre Avenue, shouting chants like "Black lives matter here" and "no justice, no peace." They also sat at the intersection of Penn and Centre avenues.
Protesters say they will stay at the mayor's house until he comes and talks to them. An air mattress was placed on the sidewalk.
"I'm here to fight for all of my Black people, just so we can thrive," Christopher Trowery told KDKA's Jennifer Borrasso.
"I'm here today because William Peduto, the city of Pittsburgh's mayor, has neglected Black lives for far too long," said Lorenzo Rulli.
Rulli helped organize the march and plans to stay all night. As of 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday, more than five hours after the protest started, a large group was still outside the mayor's home. The protest has been peaceful as protesters have sung, danced, played instruments and chanted throughout the night.
"It's time for his neighbors to hear me so that he can," Rulli said. "And until he speaks to me, I'll be here on his block, loud and proud and Black."
This weekend, between 150 and 200 protesters gathered outside of the mayor's home to call for his removal from office after the protester was arrested by plainclothes officers.
WATCH: Protesters Begin To Move Through East Liberty
Protesters were critical of the mayor, who they say has sided with police. After seeing video from the weekend arrest, Peduto says changes are being made.
"I don't want to be kidnapped," Rulli said. "As you saw on Saturday, a man was kidnapped at a march. Today I want to make it clear that I won't be kidnapped at a march."
One neighbor said she doesn't mind the protestors.
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- Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto 'Livid' About Protester Arrest, Won't 'Tolerate These Tactics' In The Future
- Pittsburgh Activists Say Peduto, Public Safety 'Vilify' Protesters Following Weekend Arrest Of Demonstrator
- Police Tactics Used In Oakland Arrest Sparks Anger, Protests, Calls For Mayor Bill Peduto's Resignation
- Pittsburgh Mayor Has 'Serious Concerns' With Plainclothes Officers' Arrest Of Protester Into Unmarked Vans
- Pittsburgh Police Arrest Man During Protests In Oakland
"Where are you? This is the second time this week they've come down here," Lexie Liller told KDKA's Jennifer Borrasso. "How much louder do you need them to be?"
The mayor's office declined to comment.
