Protesters returned to Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto’s Point Breeze home Saturday night, prompting a police presence on his front porch.
“Last time I sat on my porch & welcomed protesters w/ dialogue. They chose to end it,” Peduto said on his Twitter account. “Together, we work w/ our Black Community to reimagine policing in our city. Pittsburgh remains open to any & all ideas to work together to create a better city.”
The mayor had tried to speak with protesters from his porch on Aug. 19.
The Trib’s Nate Smallwood reported on Twitter that the protesters arrived at Peduto’s home around 9 p.m. and remained for about an hour before marching into East Liberty. About six police officers were on the mayor’s front porch. It’s unclear whether he was home.
Demonstrators currently outside the mayor’s home in Point Breeze #PittsburghProtests pic.twitter.com/fHhlPUumAj
— Nate Smallwood (@nsmallwoodphoto) September 6, 2020
Tensions have increased between protesters and the mayor after a controversial arrest last month during a protest in Oakland. Footage of the arrest of 24-year-old Matthew Cartier showed plainclothes police officers pop out of an unmarked van and pull Cartier inside. The officers, who police brass said were wearing badges and identified themselves as law enforcement, were not in uniform, and several carried rifles.
Because twice protestors tried to enter through the front door & multiple threats on social media to attack my home, tonight. Same protection that would be given to any resident under similar threats. https://t.co/AxJhUyw4cc
— bill peduto (@billpeduto) September 6, 2020
No arrests were reported Saturday.
