PITTSBURGH — Over two dozen demonstrators gathered in Pittsburgh’s East Liberty neighborhood in response to the death of Tyre Nichols.
PHOTOS: Over 2 dozen demonstrators gather in Pittsburgh in response to Tyre Nichols’ death
The planned protest came less than 24 hours after Memphis police released Tyre Nichols’ arrest video.
>> To see the unedited video released by the Memphis Police, click here. Warning the videos are graphic and contain profanity.
Local leaders have weighed in on the act of violence. Senator John Fetterman spoke out on social media Friday night and both Pittsburgh mayor Ed Gainey and Senator Bob Casey released statements Saturday morning.
The sidewalks off of N. Highland Avenue were lined with sign tables and protesters demanding justice.
>> RELATED COVERAGE: Tyre Nichols death: Protesters gather in several U.S. cities
>> RELATED COVERAGE: Tyre Nichols death: Memphis’ SCORPION police unit permanently deactivated
>> RELATED COVERAGE: Tyre Nichols death: Lora Dene King, daughter of Rodney King, reacts to video
“In some cases, the police officer who commits these killings is just dismissed from the force and faces no further repercussions and we need to show that this will and has to go to a conviction because we won’t let this be swept under the rug,” said an event organizer who carried signs that said, “Stop the war on Black America” and “Jail killer cops.”
Another local protestor shared his own account of police brutality and said how watching the released footage of Nichols’ tragic encounter with Memphis officers retraumatized him.
“I couldn’t sleep all night long because it reminded me of what happened to me in 1956,” said the protestor.
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