Wegmans releases statement after protest closes store

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — Wegmans Thursday released a statement on the protest that shut down its East Avenue location on Tuesday.

Protesters gathered in the parking lot Tuesday morning as part of "Daniel’s Day," a day of demonstrations marking one year since Daniel Prude was taken into custody by Rochester Police. He died seven days later at the hospital after he was taken off life support.

Managers closed up the store and stood by the doors as protesters began chanting outside. Over the course of several hours, demonstrators set up stands with food and coffee in the parking lot and chalked messages in the asphalt.

Protesters told News10NBC that they chose to go to the East Avenue Wegmans location because the store often has Rochester Police Officers posted by the front door for security.

The store closed for the rest of the day of Tuesday and reopened Wednesday at 6 a.m.

Read Wegmans’ full statement below:

"There was an event at our East Avenue store on Tuesday, serving as another reminder that there continues to be a great deal of pain in our community and across our nation. It takes time to truly understand the significance of these events and how we can learn from them. We have a caring, listening culture at Wegmans and always seek to understand prior to sharing our response. We continue to listen to our people, our customers, and our community.

At Wegmans, we continue to have zero tolerance for racial discrimination of any kind and stand for diversity and inclusion for all. In fact, we believe in going beyond this, to help those in need rise to the top. Since 1982, we have spent over $150 million dollars educating, training and developing folks in need in the Rochester community.

Rochester is our home; for more than 100 years we have been committed to always helping others, doing the right thing and making a difference in every community we serve. We wouldn’t be who we are today without the Rochester community."