Chants of “Say his name! Tyre Nichols” and “What solution? Revolution!” rang out as a group of about 20 activists marched down Brighton Road from Western Avenue toward the Zone 1 Pittsburgh police station on the North Side Monday afternoon to demand reform to protect Black people in Pittsburgh in response to the death of Tyre Nichols.
Protesters rallied throughout the country this weekend after footage was released Friday showing five Memphis police officers fatally beating 29-year-old Nichols, a Black motorist who was pulled over for what police said was reckless driving on Jan. 7. Nichols died in a hospital three days later.
The group, which was organized by Pittsburgh Feminists for Intersectionality and the Black Liberation Autonomous Collective, circled in front of the police station and blocked both lanes of traffic to all vehicles except buses. Organizers spoke about local reform initiatives to protect Black people in Pittsburgh. One initiative includes reducing the number of police officers employed by the city and adding more social workers.
Daeja Baker, a North Side native and one of the event’s organizers, told the crowd they chose to disrupt traffic around the Zone 1 police station “to show them we’re not afraid of them.”
“These people literally created the police force to continue slavery, to continue control of us and our bodies and our families,” Baker said.
Baker, who lives a short distance from the Zone 1 station, said police officers have come to her front door several times after her house has been hit by gunfire. When officers arrive, she said, “My mom is terrified. You know what they asked me? They asked if my 9-year-old brother was in a gang.”
Baker also criticized the recent proposal sponsored by City Council President Theresa Kail-Smith that called to reinstate enforcement of a youth curfew, which was voted down by the council Wednesday.
“You’re criminalizing us by introducing this legislation,” Baker said before calling for attendees to attend City Council meetings. “Some kids have to work because their families don’t have enough money to provide for them.”
Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Lee Schmidt and acting police Chief Thomas Stangrecki issued a prepared statement Monday that read, “Our hearts are with the family and community of Tyre Nichols as they grieve their son, friend, brother and father; lost to senseless violence at the hands of those sworn to protect and serve.
“What happened on January 7 was a violent, inexcusable failure by the officers involved.
“The swift action of Tennessee law enforcement to investigate and charge those officers makes a strong statement, and sets an important precedent for the future of police accountability. Additionally, we would like to thank all those who have gathered, and continue to gather, for exercising their right to protest peacefully.”
Multiple protesters on the North Side discussed problems in the Allegheny County Jail, citing a lack of health care and access to healthy food. They called for the end of cash bail, which keeps people incarcerated before they’ve been convicted of a crime.
After spending about three hours in front of the police station and sharing hand warmers, hot chocolate and solutions to the problems Black people face in Pittsburgh, the group peacefully disbanded.
Alexandra is a photographer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but she's currently on strike.