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Protesters Gather In Pittsburgh Following Grand Jury Decision In Shooting Death Of Breonna Taylor

By: KDKA-TV News Staff

PITTSBURGH (KDKA/AP) -- Hundreds of protesters marched through Pittsburgh on Wednesday night after a Kentucky grand jury brought no charges against Louisville police for the killing of Breonna Taylor.

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(Photo Credit: KDKA)

The only charges brought by the grand jury were three counts of wanton endangerment against fired Officer Brett Hankison for shooting into Taylor's neighbors' homes during the raid on the night of March 13. Prosecutors said that two officers who fired their weapons at the Black woman were justified in using force to protect themselves after they were shot at.

Demonstrators gathered at Freedom Corner around 7 p.m. to hear from speakers before moving down Centre Avenue, toward downtown Pittsburgh.

The group stopped near Duquesne University, where Dannielle Brown gave a speech. Brown is on a hunger strike as she waits for answers into the 2018 death of her son, Marquis Jaylen Brown, at Duquesne University.

The group then stopped outside the Allegheny County Courthouse and sat down to listen to speakers. The demonstrators began dispersing around 11 p.m. The protest was peaceful.

All throughout the night, organizers wanted to amplify Black women. Speakers were passionate and expressed their anger at the treatment of the Black community.

Protests are happening across the country following the grand jury's decision.

RELATED STORY: CBS News Has More on The Grand Jury's Decision

WATCH: Unrest In Louisville, KDKA's Lisa Washington With The Latest

Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto took to Twitter on Wednesday night, saying Taylor's death was "tragic."

"Today our judicial system continued the tragedy. Systemic change is needed throughout our criminal justice system. May her memory & the memories of too many others inspire all of us & provide the courage needed for change," the mayor said on his verified Twitter account.

(Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.)

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