Sixth night of protests ends peacefully, more demonstrations expected

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — As the sixth night of protests over the death of Daniel Prude ended peacefully, protesters are expected to continue as we head into day seven of demonstrations.

Free the People Roc organizers and more than 1,000 attendees gathered at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park as they continue to demand justice, and for the resignation of Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren and Police Chief La’Ron Singletary.

Among them were 12 city elders.

Protesters marched from the park to City Hall, then to the Public Safety Building, where they sat down and several speakers addressed the crowd.

That was the case for several hours before police declared the gathering unlawful after a skirmish at around 10:30 p.m. when police asked them to disperse from the area and head north on Exchange Boulevard.

Minor skirmish in front of PSB. Police now calling the gathering unlawful. pic.twitter.com/vWgjdgMCww

— Patrick Moussignac (@WHEC_Moussignac) September 8, 2020

That was when city elders stepped in.

Rochester City Elder Asa Adams and another protester helped keep tensions from rising and peace to prevail.

"Don’t misconstrue us that we’re trying to be violent, that’s not what this is about," Adams said. “We’re trying to recognize what happened to this young man whose life was lost, and that’s why we’re out here. We want to make sure everybody’s who’s out here and protesting is safe."

No arrests were made, and no force was used, police said.

The city council is set to meet with Warren and Singletary for a briefing on Tuesday, and they plan to meet regularly from now on.

For full coverage on the death of Daniel Prude, click here.