The organizers of Friday’s Black Lives Matter protests say they want the immediate dismissal of charges against those accused of disorderly conduct that night, and an apology to those they say were “terrorized” by police when they moved in to end the demonstration.
They say the mayor and the chief acted “recklessly” in forcing an end to the demonstration.
The group known as “BLACKlife585” also said in a news conference that Rochester police should be “demilitarized” and citizens should have a say in police contract negotiations, requiring new training and conduct standards. And they want an independent police control board to review the Friday night arrests after police pushed the protesters out of East Avenue and Alexander Street.
BLACKlife585 challenges Police Chief Michael Ciminelli’s statement that there were no injuries apart from some scratches to three people who resisted arrest. The group charges demonstrators suffered blunt force trauma, lacerations and facial bruises to some of the 76 demonstrators who were arrested.
The group says they have promoted peaceful protests since August of 2014 and have had a direct line of communication to the mayor and police chief. They don’t know why it failed Friday night.