PITTSBURGH (Newsradio 1020 KDKA) - Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto has released a statement after a group of protesters occupied the area outside his house Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning.
The protesters gathered asking for Peduto’s resignation after plainclothes police officers arrested a man and put him in an unmarked van during a protest Saturday.
At its peak, hundreds of protesters were in the area but had dwindled to a dozen or so Wednesday morning.
The group had grown smaller by the time Pittsburgh Police declared an unlawful protest.
The mayor was never at his home during the protests.
In the statement, Peduto says while he supports the First Amendment to protest, he does not support his neighbors in Point Breeze being disturbed through the night.
The statement in full reads:
“I have long defended First Amendment rights to peaceably protest. I strongly believe that Black Lives Matter, that we are in a historic fight for civil rights in this country, and that it is right for people to take to the streets to demand much-needed reforms to policing in our cities.
What I cannot defend is any neighborhood in our city — and their residents and families — being disturbed through the night and morning, and a peaceful protest devolving into unacceptable conduct in which residents are being harassed and threatened. This crosses a line that cannot be allowed to continue, causing those committing crimes against residents to face possible legal consequences for their actions. Using protests to create conflict and division, as some are doing, only impacts the ability of others to exercise their constitutional rights safely.
I am working to make Pittsburgh a better city for all, and I have condemned and halted the arrest methods Pittsburgh Police used last weekend. I understand that people are feeling fear, pain and anger in our communities, and that some want to take their frustrations out on me. I fully accept that, but I will not accept unjustified actions that threaten neighbors in any part of the city.”
According to reports, protesters had at least one confrontation with a neighbor.
Police are now interviewing neighbors to see if any citations will be issued for an unruly protest in front of the mayor’s house.
There were reports of disorderly conduct and harassment but no major damage.
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