Demonstrators march following announcement of no charges over Prude death

Alexandra Weaver

[anvplayer video=”5009020″ station=”998131″]

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — Demonstrators gathered in Rochester Tuesday night after New York Attorney General Letitia James announced a grand jury declined to indict any police officers involved in the Daniel Prude case.

Free the People Roc, an activist group that has been the driving force behind several protests in the city over the death of Prude, organized the event.

Protesters first gathered at around 7 p.m. on Jefferson Avenue near Dr. Samuel McCree Way, the area where the incident between Prude and Rochester Police officers took place in March 2020.

After organizers spoke, protesters began marching down Jefferson Avenue.

They ended up at a police substation on Child and Campbell streets. The Rochester Police Department says "after officers showed incredible composure while taking verbal attacks," the protesters moved onto I-490 from the Child Street exit and began marching east toward downtown.

They marched to the Public Safety Building on Exchange Boulevard. While at the Public Safety Building, some protesters climbed over the barricades and gathered at the front door of the building, according to the Rochester Police Department.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office warned that the assembly on the other side of the police barricades was unlawful and told protesters to disperse or face arrest.

[News10NBC]

At approximately 11:45 p.m. Tuesday, the crowd dispersed. News10NBC is working to find out if any arrests were made.

Some vocal community members began making their feelings heard right after the announcement that there would be no indictment was made.

Free the People Roc posted on their Facebook page, saying, in part, "We demand the immediate firing of the officers that murdered Daniel Prude, the severing of the Locust Club contract, and the complete dismantling of the Rochester Police Department."