ROCHESTER, N.Y. — During Saturday’s protest against President Trump and Elon Musk, thousands marched down Monroe Avenue.

News10NBC got calls from several viewers who said they did not see police out helping to direct traffic. Many of you asked what the rules are surrounding demonstrations, and what law enforcement’s role is.

This planned event was one of over 150 throughout the country, in protest of Musk and the president’s cuts to the federal government. In the Rochester area, thousands gathered in Hamlin, Livonia, Batavia, and, in the city, Cobbs Hill.

After a demonstration in Cobbs Hill, protestors continued on with a planned march down Monroe Avenue, to take their message into the city.

The first thing a city spokesperson said in response to our inquiry was that protesting is a First Amendment Right. However, all demonstrations are subject to certain rules if they’re to take place on city property. Those include leaving a certain amount of space on the sidewalk, and staying out of the street unless they obtain special permission.

A city spokesperson said organizers of the protest reached out to city officials weeks in advance. We were also told organizers had gotten special permits to enter the streets, and went above and beyond administratively to keep the demonstration in line with city policy.

Organizers told the city they expected a minimum of 2,000 participants — and the city says the Rochester Police Department knew well ahead of time.

Some viewers who were stuck in traffic and some protestors we spoke with said they didn’t see a police presence. We reached out to RPD over the weekend, and a representative said they would get back to News10NBC on Monday regarding what their role was — if any — in the demonstration.

News10NBC has not heard of any reports of property damage, arrests, or other crimes committed related to the demonstrations. RPD released this statement on Monday:

“The Rochester Police Department (RPD) is committed to supporting the US Constitution, as the First Amendment protects the right to assemble.  The RPD is also committed to public safety and the responsibility to protect the public from criminal acts, including violence, in order to ensure safety. We monitored the event and thankfully there were no known threats to public safety.  I’m not aware of any injuries, arrests, or any other significant events associated with Saturday’s protest.”

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