PITTSBURGH — Hundreds of people marched through the streets of Pittsburgh on Thursday for a protest in response to the death of George Floyd.
This was the sixth straight day of protests in our area.
Floyd, 46, died May 25 after he was detained for questioning regarding a possible forgery in progress in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Video of his death caught by bystanders showed former Officer Derek Chauvin holding his knee to Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes as Floyd pleaded for air, sparking outrage.
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Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison on Wednesday announced that charges have been filed against all four officers involved in the situation.
Chauvin, who was previously charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, has been charged with second-degree murder. The other officers involved were charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter.
During Thursday’s protests, hundreds of people lay silently in the middle of Second Avenue outside of the Allegheny County Jail. It was a powerful message and referenced how Floyd was killed.
You can follow along with previous live updates from the protest, below:
UPDATE 6:06 p.m.: Pittsburgh Public Safety said the crowd has been dispersed and there were no issues.
Crowd has dispersed. No incidents, no issues. Entirely peaceful. https://t.co/Y12lv9nR51
— Pgh Public Safety (@PghPublicSafety) June 4, 2020
UPDATE 5:47 p.m.: The crowd has returned to 6th Avenue and Wood Street -- that’s where the protest began.
Crowd has returned to the protest’s starting point at 6th and Wood. https://t.co/ma21wvdEiu
— Pgh Public Safety (@PghPublicSafety) June 4, 2020
UPDATE 5:33 p.m.: Protesters are now back in downtown Pittsburgh along Fifth Avenue.
Still on Fifth, crowd has moved back into Downtown. https://t.co/orvUiZ5ud4
— Pgh Public Safety (@PghPublicSafety) June 4, 2020
UPDATE 5:09 p.m.: The crowd has moved onto Fifth Avenue and is heading in direction of Downtown through Uptown.
Crowd has moved onto Fifth Avenue and is heading in direction of Downtown through Uptown. https://t.co/2OMbjDumqb
— Pgh Public Safety (@PghPublicSafety) June 4, 2020
UPDATE 4:55 p.m.: The protest has now made its way to the end of Birmingham Bridge.
Public Safety officials are warning protesters of the storm moving in.
The storm is here. A severe thunderstorm warning was just issued for all of Allegheny County until 6 p.m. The crowd is at the end of Birmingham Bridge now. Be prepared for severe weather conditions. https://t.co/9etQJieo7o
— Pgh Public Safety (@PghPublicSafety) June 4, 2020
UPDATE 4:20 p.m.: The crowd has now stopped at the intersection of East Carson and South 18th Streets.
Crowd has stopped and is now stationary in the intersection of East Carson Street and S 18th Street. https://t.co/cN9ouiAVcp
— Pgh Public Safety (@PghPublicSafety) June 4, 2020
UPDATE 3:51 p.m. Protesters are now heading to the South Side, crossing the 10th Street Bridge.
Protestors are heading over to the South Side @WPXI pic.twitter.com/KWRpdrODfk
— Amy Hudak (@amy_hudak) June 4, 2020
UPDATE 3:15 p.m. Protesters are now lying down on the ground in front of the Allegheny County Jail.
Crowd of hundreds laying down outside of Allegheny County Jail @WPXI pic.twitter.com/H4HpE3E6uL
— Amy Hudak (@amy_hudak) June 4, 2020
UPDATE 3:09 p.m.: Hundreds of people have made their way to the Allegheny County Jail.
Second Avenue is closed to all traffic.
Crowd has made it to the Allegheny County Jail and stopped there. Second Avenue is currently closed to all vehicle traffic. https://t.co/7r7DkkRhdr
— Pgh Public Safety (@PghPublicSafety) June 4, 2020
UPDATE 3:03 p.m.: The protest, which remains peaceful, is moving up the Boulevard of the Allies and onto Second Avenue.
Crowd is moving again — up Blvd of the Allies and onto Second Avenue. Many hundreds of people in the group. All is peaceful, but motorists can expect delays/closures. https://t.co/qJjIJJpwjD
— Pgh Public Safety (@PghPublicSafety) June 4, 2020
UPDATE 2:45 p.m.: The crowd is now seated at the intersection of 3rd Avenue and Smithfield Street.
Crowd is now seated pic.twitter.com/25gJcHtBCK
— Amy Hudak (@amy_hudak) June 4, 2020
UPDATE 2:40 p.m.: The peaceful protest is coming down 3rd Avenue near Smithfield Street.
A passionate and peaceful crowd is coming down 3rd near Smithfield @WPXI pic.twitter.com/Nk5kVZPY6l
— Amy Hudak (@amy_hudak) June 4, 2020
UPDATE 2:24 p.m.: The crowd is now walking up 6th Avenue.
Crowd moving again, walking up 6th Avenue. https://t.co/cJTsgtaoo7
— Pgh Public Safety (@PghPublicSafety) June 4, 2020
UPDATE 2:19 p.m.: The crowd has stopped at 6th Avenue and Wood Street.
Pittsburgh Public Safety officials said police will close streets ahead of protesters for everyone’s safety and to expect delays.
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