‘You May As Well Have Lit A Fuse’ An Account From The Pittsburgh Rally

Rallies across the country have been taking place in support of justice for not just George Floyd but for all victims of police violence. Some were peaceful, others not so much. This is “not so much” coming from Pittsburgh, PA.

This was a peaceful demo/rally/march and people were slowly dispersing and ending the action when five mounted horse patrol cops came right thru the crowd.

You may as well have lit a fuse.

Protestors and City of Pittsburgh Police officers clashed as hundreds of people took to the streets demanding justice for the death of George Floyd. (Michael M. Santiago/Post-Gazette) #pittsburghprotest pic.twitter.com/xMmpPv5mGR

— Michael M. Santiago (@msantiagophotos) May 31, 2020

It can only be interpreted as a deliberately provocative act by the police. The crowd erupted and the cops had to flee as fast as they could make their horses run.

Shortly after, the first cop car was torched. Then riot cops were waiting at the bottom of the hill at PPG arena and fired tear gas at the crowd, but the wind blew it directly back on the cops who then ran to their vans and fled as the crowd rushed them. Another car was burned and then the crowd moved downtown.

You know the rest. This crowd was very heavily skewed toward young people, maybe 16-25, almost all wearing masks, very diverse, and very angry. This speaks, I think, to not only the anger among young people of all races over racism, but also the realization that there is little future in store for that age group. They’re pissed off, and they’re not afraid to show it.

No idea how many people are out here but they keep coming. Hundreds. Of all ages and races. #GeorgeFloydprotest #pittsburghprotest @PghCurrent pic.twitter.com/jExvWOikom

— Brittany Hailer (@BrittanyHailer) May 30, 2020

This is how we do it in #Pittsburgh #Pittsburghprotest pic.twitter.com/oimbpuxTo1

— Barack Mo Bamba (@AndrewPutnam15) May 30, 2020