Pittsburgh leaders says they're preparing for demonstrations and asking for peace following the Derek Chauvin verdict.
Though city officials have not made public those preparations in detail, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto said they're in talks with agencies across the region.
He also told News Radio KDKA's Morning Show "We've been doing outreach to the leaders of the protests to encourage, should there be any type of activity, to encourage all participants to do so in a way that would avoid any police and citizen interaction."
At a press conference Monday addressing recent gun violence in the city, Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich said the City supports a person's right to to protest.
"We're certainly asking for peace and we will do everything we can to allow individuals to express their first amendment rights," he said.
He added police will act in the event of violence.
"There comes a time that violence, throwing items at police officers, destroying property, that we have to take action," he said. "We hope to God that it doesn't occur."
The death of George Floyd in police custody last year resulted in protest across the country, including over 120 protest in the City of Pittsburgh.
Peduto added the vast majority of those 120 protests were peaceful.
