Rochester police say 30 men and women were arrested early Thursday morning after they met Wednesday night at Martin Luther King Jr. park to challenge Mayor Lovely Warren’s curfew order.
Mayor Warren imposed the ban on large outdoor gatherings and house parties because they’ve repeatedly ended in gunfire in recent weeks. Her order bans groups of more than five people from gathering outside from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Protesters gathered at MLK park about 10:45 Wednesday night in opposition to the mayor’s order. They marched from the park through the East End and returned, with some ignoring police orders to disperse.
At 2 a.m. police began arresting those who refused to leave the park. Police say no force was used in any of the arrests and no protester or officer was injured.
All protesters were issued appearance tickets to city court and released. All are charged with a misdemeanor violation of an executive order.