A community group called on the steps of city hall Thursday morning for the resignation of Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren, saying she has lost the trust of Rochester’s Black and Brown communities with the death of Daniel Prude.
Some members of the group “Free the People ROC” then blocked Church and Fitzhugh Streets by sitting down in the intersection outside City Hall.
Free The People ROC says they want the immediate arrest of the three police officers they accuse of causing the death of Daniel Prude while restraining him back in March. They want replacement of police officers detailed to cases involving mental hygiene with teams of mental health professionals. They say “Daniel’s Law” would have prevented his detention while having a mental health episode, which led to his death.
They call it a human rights issue. They also say Mayor Warren has refused to speak with them and they were barred from Wednesday’s news conference. They vowed nonstop protests until their demands are satisfied.
The mayor has said the city has no comment on the case until the State Attorney General’s office completes its independent investigation.
United Church Ministries then held a news conference calling the death of Daniel Prude “an execution” and calling all the officers involved “complicit in Mr. Prude’s death.”