A largely peaceful group of protesters took to the streets of East Liberty on Tuesday night in opposition of the recent arrest of a local activist by Pittsburgh police.
Around 150 protesters started the march from the Target store in East Liberty, down Centre Avenue into Shadyside where they converged on Fifth Avenue. They eventually marched to Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto’s home in Point Breeze.
Protesters gathered at Peduto’s home on Sunday to decry a “low-visibility arrest” of activist Matthew Cartier in Oakland who was part of a Black Lives Matter protest the day before.
Cartier, 24, was whisked away from the protest by plainclothes officers, according to video from various social media accounts.
Peduto did not make an appearance Tuesday. It is unclear whether the mayor was home.
Nonetheless, there were seven Pittsburgh police bicycle patrol officers stationed outside Peduto’s home.
Several protesters filled an air mattress and stated they were going to stay the night outside of the mayor’s home.
“I’m gonna sit outside your house ‘til you come out and talk to me,” Shawn Green, who goes by Lorenzo Rulli, yelled in the direction of the house.
He declined further comment.
To prove they were serious about staying, the protesters ordered pizza to the residence.
The protest remained peaceful as of 9:30 p.m.
Peduto had earlier called the arrest tactics “alarming” and had expressed “serious concerns” to Public Safety officials. He has been among a host of others demanding further review.
