PITTSBURGH — Thousands of protesters gathered in Pittsburgh’s East Liberty neighborhood Monday afternoon.
It wasn’t until a few hours later when police said a small group of people split off from the peaceful protest and began to damage businesses in the area. Police said they started to throw rocks and other items at law enforcement, and smoke was thrown after officers gave numerous orders for them to disperse.
Crowds have gathered across the Pittsburgh area the past three days to rally in response to the death of George Floyd in Minnesota. Floyd died while in police custody last week.
Former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin was arrested Friday and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter in Floyd’s death. Chauvin is accused of keeping his knee on Floyd’s neck for more than eight minutes.
UPDATE 11:15 p.m.: Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich said nine officers were injured. All officers were evaluated and released from the hospital.
Hissrich said at least four windows were broken, but it doesn’t appear any businesses were looted.
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Two protesters were transported to the hospital with injuries that they said they got from bean bags.
Hissrich said 20 people were arrested tonight, which included four people who are not from Pennsylvania.
Police did clarify that officers deployed smoke and not tear gas.
“It’s the outsiders that are not here for a peaceful protest” - Wendell Hissrich, PGH Public Safety Director.
— Michele Newell (@micheleWPXI) June 2, 2020
20 arrests (4 from out of state) , 9 officers injured, after a peaceful protest, ended in East Liberty tonight. pic.twitter.com/uxR3V0brqh
UPDATE 10:10 p.m.: Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto, Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich and Pittsburgh police officials will be holding a press conference at 11 p.m. to discuss the violence after the peaceful protest in East Liberty.
UPDATE 9:57 p.m.: Police said this was a peaceful protest, but once it ended at Target, a small group broke off.
Police said that group vandalized and broke glass store fronts, and threw rocks and bottles at officers.
When police gave orders for them to disperse, they did not listen, Public Safety officials said.
Officers also observed splinter group vandalize/break glass store fronts, and throw rocks and bottles at officers at Centre and Negley. Police then gave numerous orders to disperse. None were heeded. https://t.co/NF12Trr19V
— Pgh Public Safety (@PghPublicSafety) June 2, 2020
UPDATE 9:26 p.m.: Pittsburgh Public Safety officials said the scene is now secure.
They said a number of businesses were vandalized and police made numerous arrests.
Scene is now secure, but curfew is in effect. A number of businesses were vandalized and police made numerous arrests; numbers will be published when available. https://t.co/45zfeyhD8j
— Pgh Public Safety (@PghPublicSafety) June 2, 2020
UPDATE 8:43 p.m.: SWAT officers are surrounding the Target store on Penn Avenue.
Officers/ SWAT are surrounding Target on Penn ave. We just watched a woman being walked out of the store in handcuffs. Officers are now blocking the store entrance. pic.twitter.com/wD8JUM8w8X
— Michele Newell (@micheleWPXI) June 2, 2020
UPDATE 8:30 p.m.: The citywide curfew for Pittsburgh is now in effect through 6 a.m. Tuesday.
HERE’S WHAT THE CURFEW MEANS FOR YOU
More tear gas has been deployed as a crowd continued to gather near the Target store on Penn Avenue. A state police helicopter was brought in and has been flying above the scene throughout the evening.
UPDATE 8:10 p.m.: Several dozen people are still gathering as a crowd and are refusing to disperse. They are now sitting in the middle of the intersection.
Several people are directly confronting the police line now.
A hose was set up on top of a building above the police line spraying water down on them as the police advance up the street. Again, a curfew is scheduled to go into effect at 8:30 p.m.
More tear gas was being deployed. Another person was being taken into police custody. This is taking place near Highland Avenue and Center Avenue.
Avoid Shadyside as well. Officers are clearing area and making arrests. Several roads are closed. https://t.co/1XjzK3oUPv
— Pgh Public Safety (@PghPublicSafety) June 2, 2020
UPDATE 7:54 p.m.: From Chopper 11, it appears several people have been taken into custody following heavily armed police deploying smoke.
We’re seeing at least two protestors being arrested on Centre Avenue @WPXI
— Amy Hudak (@amy_hudak) June 1, 2020
Police in riot gear are working to move down the street and clear out the remaining small group of protesters.
Several Port Authority buses appear to be stopped in the area as protesters are blocking streets and intersections.
There is a city-wide curfew scheduled to go into effect at 8:30 p.m.
UPDATE 7:39 p.m.: Police are telling people to avoid East Liberty and have declared the area not safe.
Avoid East Liberty area. It is not safe right now https://t.co/stcmNBknm8
— Pgh Public Safety (@PghPublicSafety) June 1, 2020
Police said a small group broke off from the peaceful protest and began smashing windows.
Small group that broke off from peaceful march broke windows and threw items at police at Centre and Negley. Officers issued several orders to disperse. Group ignored. Police used smoke and then gas to disperse group. https://t.co/gbnzbliIzk
— Pgh Public Safety (@PghPublicSafety) June 1, 2020
UPDATE 7:28 p.m.: Officers have fired tear gas at protesters, our crews could see from Chopper 11.
Officers have fired tear gas at protestors. Protestors have moved back @WPXI
— Amy Hudak (@amy_hudak) June 1, 2020
UPDATE 7:14 p.m.: A couple hundred protesters remain in East Liberty after hours
Significantly smaller size crowd of protestors in East Liberty than a couple hours ago. A couple hundred remain (a couple thousand earlier). @WPXI
— Amy Hudak (@amy_hudak) June 1, 2020
Crowd has started to splinter with many peaceful protesters are leaving area. https://t.co/w3sWVhgqoU
— Pgh Public Safety (@PghPublicSafety) June 1, 2020
UPDATE 6:40 p.m.: The crowd is now at Penn and Centre, in front of Target where they started.
Crowd is now at Penn and Centre, in front of Target. https://t.co/eFEm1TkviS
— Pgh Public Safety (@PghPublicSafety) June 1, 2020
UPDATE 6:30 p.m.: Protesters are now stopped at the intersection of Broad Street and Larimer Avenue.
Multiple roads are closed in the area.
Pittsburgh Public Safety officials said protesters have been and remain peaceful.
UPDATE 6:08 p.m.: The crowd is now moving down East Liberty to Broad Street.
Crowd is mobile again, moving down East Liberty to Broad Street. https://t.co/xIyOIpC7HO
— Pgh Public Safety (@PghPublicSafety) June 1, 2020
UPDATE 5:50 p.m.: Protesters are now stopped on Penn Avenue near Negley Street.
Several roads in the area are closed.
Crowd is stationary now on Penn Ave near Negley. Reminder: several roads in E Liberty area are closed. https://t.co/P7oUNsfBcs
— Pgh Public Safety (@PghPublicSafety) June 1, 2020
UPDATE 5:26 p.m.: Protesters are now standing along Penn Avenue in front of the Target where they started.
Protesters are standing along Penn Avenue in front of Target, right now. Locking arms. This protest has been peaceful, so far. pic.twitter.com/cQOl6N7i66
— Michele Newell (@micheleWPXI) June 1, 2020
UPDATE 5:00 p.m.: The crowd is now stopped at Station Street and N Highland Avenue.
Crowd now stopped at Station St and N Highland Ave. https://t.co/Fxa5bUhkVq
— Pgh Public Safety (@PghPublicSafety) June 1, 2020
UPDATE 4:45 p.m.: Police continue blocking intersections as the crowd makes its way down Station Street.
Police are blocking intersections as this protest makes it way down station st. in East Liberty. pic.twitter.com/O13lup75pC
— Michele Newell (@micheleWPXI) June 1, 2020
UPDATE 4:29 p.m.: Pittsburgh Public Safety said the crowd is now moving around the Penn Circle area.
Officials are asking everyone to be patient if you get caught in traffic or closures.
Crowd now moving around Penn Circle area. Police on scene will continue to close roads for everyone’s safety. Please be patient if you get caught in traffic or closures. https://t.co/bJA0o9oLMt
— Pgh Public Safety (@PghPublicSafety) June 1, 2020
UPDATE 4:36 p.m.: Protesters are now marching down N Euclid Avenue.
Protesters are now marching down N. Euclid ave. #GeorgeFloydProtests pic.twitter.com/FUNogjniwe
— Michele Newell (@micheleWPXI) June 1, 2020
UPDATE 4:30 p.m.: Pittsburgh Public Safety officials said the group of several hundred protesters marching peacefully in East Liberty are currently at the intersection of Penn and N Euclid avenues.
They said to expect traffic delays in the area.
ALERT: A group of several hundred protesters is marching peacefully in East Liberty. Currently occupying intersection of Penn and N Euclid avenues. Expect traffic delays in area. Stay with Public Safety for regular updates. pic.twitter.com/Ftpo6XJ277
— Pgh Public Safety (@PghPublicSafety) June 1, 2020
UPDATE 4:14 p.m.: Protesters are marching down Penn Avenue right now.
Police have several intersections blocked off.
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