Police make 16 arrests after Black Lives Matter protesters block street downtown

Will Cleveland , Stevie Johnson | Democrat and Chronicle

Show Caption Hide Caption 16 people arrested at Black Lives Matter protest in Rochester Sights and sounds from Saturday’s Black Lives Matter protest in downtown Rochester. (July 7, 2018)

A Black Lives Matter rally that began with about 150 participants ended with more than a dozen arrests hours later after protesters disrupted traffic in several spots as they marched late Saturday afternoon through downtown Rochester.

Sixteen arrests were made without incident, according to police. Each of the demonstrators is charged with two counts of disorderly conduct, a violation, and will be arraigned at 9:30 a.m. Monday in Rochester City Court.

The protest started as a rally about 4 p.m. at Washington Square Park, but developed into a march that meandered through areas of downtown. A few minutes later, demonstrators shut down the intersection of of South Union and East Broad streets.

By about 6 p.m. the marchers had shut down the intersection of Monroe Avenue and Howell Street next to Strong Museum.

They later moved to South Clinton Avenue, where police shut down the off ramp to Clinton Avenue from Interstate 490 and redirected traffic. A few protesters remained locked arm-in-arm, seated in the intersection South Clinton Avenue and Woodbury Street.

The Rochester Police Department issued warnings in English and Spanish in an attempt to disperse demonstrators from the roadway. "You are hereby ordered to leave the area," police stated.

Police then surrounded members of the group who remained sitting in a circle on South Clinton Avenue and began making arrests. Members of the Rochester Police Department's tactical unit formed another circle around the officers who were surrounding the protesters.

Officers in riot gear were wearing helmets and were armed with non-lethal weapons. The intersection remained closed for nearly two hours.

These are the 16 people arrested by RPD during the #BlackLivesMatters protest in downtown Rochester. pic.twitter.com/QeWfUuunkB — Will Cleveland (@WillCleveland13) July 8, 2018

Protesters said they have repeatedly invited police and city officials to sit and communicate with them. They said their requests have been ignored. Organizers from Black Lives Matter Roc declined to speak with media. Instead, they said they would only speak with Open Mic Roc, a Rochester-based online black magazine.

"This is basically disobedience," one of the protesters said over a megaphone. "We're not harming anyone."

Another protester added, "I love black people. I love being black. We need to empower each other. White people need to be spectators."

At the first two stops, protesters wrote chalk messages on the roadways and did chalk outlines of fellow demonstrators to signify the black lives impacted by police violence.

On South Clinton Avenue, a small group of protesters blocked a portion of the road with traffic cones and sat in the middle of the street near Geva Theatre. The theater's front door was locked and officers led theatergoers into a side door for an 8 p.m. performance of Million Dollar Quartet.

Last two demonstrators were just arrested and cleared from the intersection. 16 total pic.twitter.com/e4iJCC71aF — Will Cleveland (@WillCleveland13) July 8, 2018

While the demonstrators were gathered on South Clinton, they engulfed a blue Ford sedan with two occupants that was unable to get through the intersection.

At 6:45 p.m., Deputy Chief La'Ron Singletary of the Rochester Police Department sent an email alert to media that "police are going to start to provide warnings of possible arrests of protesters that are not going to disperse from the area of the vehicle that is being surrounded."

Warnings were issued over a loud speaker and the vehicle was able to leave the area by backing up down South Clinton Avenue.

After the arrests were made, the remaining demonstrators moved back to Washington Square Park.

Black Lives Matter protesters begin chanting as Police deliver warning to clear roadway. @DandC #CatchUSATwork pic.twitter.com/XGI9EMsHnJ — Stevie Johnson (@Stevie_Andretti) July 7, 2018

As officers descended, one of the protesters asked those gathered, "Who is ready to get arrested?" Officers methodically cleared the intersection, handcuffing demonstrators one-by-one and taking them to a Monroe County Sheriff's Office van.

This protest comes nearly two years to the date of a larger Black Lives Matter rally in Rochester, where 74 people were arrested.

That 2016 protest started at the Liberty Pole in downtown Rochester and ended hours later after protesters shut down traffic in the East End.

It took 112 officers, including state police and members of town police departments, three hours to clear the area, Rochester Police Chief Michael Ciminelli said in 2016.

No officers or demonstrators were injured in the 2016 protest.

WCLEVELAND@Gannett.com

14 arrests now pic.twitter.com/b2O09zdmJA — Will Cleveland (@WillCleveland13) July 7, 2018

Demonstrators are still locked in the intersection. RPD slowly making arrests. #roc @DandC pic.twitter.com/EK574VCFoy — Will Cleveland (@WillCleveland13) July 7, 2018

RPD has surrounded demonstrators now. pic.twitter.com/tZDrS0lITB — Will Cleveland (@WillCleveland13) July 7, 2018

RPD getting into position. pic.twitter.com/9nDXSY1aCR — Will Cleveland (@WillCleveland13) July 7, 2018

RPD officers issuing warnings and getting read to disperse demonstrators. #roc @DandC pic.twitter.com/MMJNd2LTyQ — Will Cleveland (@WillCleveland13) July 7, 2018

Protesters sitting in the street now. And RPD gathered a bit farther down Clinton. #roc @DandC pic.twitter.com/IfA6Vub4gH — Will Cleveland (@WillCleveland13) July 7, 2018

Protesters have put cones into the road. One asked: Who is ready to get arrested? #roc @DandC pic.twitter.com/5OXnEbxWuf — Will Cleveland (@WillCleveland13) July 7, 2018

Chalk messages and outlines of bodies being left in the middle of the intersection. #roc @DandC pic.twitter.com/rulqcxoagf — Will Cleveland (@WillCleveland13) July 7, 2018