Crime & Safety
Downtown Pittsburgh 'Unsafe' During Protest: Officials
People protesting the death of George Floyd have turned violent, officials say.
PITTSBURGH, PA — Pittsburgh public safety officials have declared an unlawful assembly Downtown after people protesting the death of George Floyd in Minnesota damaged property, looted businesses and injured journalists.
We have declared an unlawful assembly Downtown. This follows repeated acts of violence, property damage and looting of businesses, which is ongoing. Residents please stay home. Businesses should close. If you are Downtown, leave the area. https://t.co/bGzF3ZeWEQ
— Pgh Public Safety (@PghPublicSafety) May 30, 2020
"To those vandalizing Downtown, you will be arrested," Mayor Bill Peduto wrote on Twitter.
"You have turned on the very mission, and more importantly, the people you marched for two hours ago. You have turned their peaceful march for justice into your self-centered, violent act of attention."
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To those vandalizing Downtown. You will be arrested. You have turned on the very mission, and more importantly - the people, you supposedly marched for 2 hours ago. You have turned their peaceful march for justice into your self-centered, violent act of attention. https://t.co/hu5Z0XkohU
— bill peduto (@billpeduto) May 30, 2020
Pittsburgh public safety officials confirmed injuries to at least two journalists. A police car was set on fire and the Mario Lemieux statue in front of PPG Paints Arena was vandalized. Downtown is not considered safe.
Floyd, 46, died Monday after a Minnepolis policeman kneeled on his neck for minutes despite Floyd's insistence that he couldn't breathe. The officer has been charged with third-degeee murder; the incident has set off rioting nationwide.
Find out what's happening in Pittsburghfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
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