'We're certainly asking for peace': Pittsburgh preps for Chauvin verdict reaction

Pittsburgh leaders are preparing for local reaction to the Derek Chauvin verdict in Minneapolis.

The former police officer’s fate is in the hands of a jury that’s deliberating whether he’s responsible for the May 25, 2020 death of George Floyd. Deliberations began Monday and will continue today.

Floyd’s death was one of many that involved police across the country that sparked protests throughout last year, including more than 100 in the Pittsburgh area.

Beyond the protests that followed Floyd’s death, Pittsburgh Councilman Ricky Burgess lamented the racism that’s lingering in the nation and in Pittsburgh.

“We have to change the country. We have allowed racism in our city to bubble and prevail,” Burgess said.

He couldn’t bring himself to watch the trial because it brought on endless tears.

“We saw a murder with our own eyes. We saw it in our faces,” Burgess said. “Now we have to wait and see if our justice system believes that a black man’s life is worth anything.”

He said he’s fearful of what may happen after the verdict is rendered.

“We are prepared,” police Chief Scott Schubert said. “We’re going to do our job to the best of our ability to protect people, respect their rights and more importantly, keeping it safe for everybody.”

Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich echoed Schubert and said city officials have been meeting with federal and state law enforcement and emergency management leaders, along with local business and community leaders to prepare for public reaction.

“We’re certainly asking for peace,” Hissrich said. “We’ll do everything we can to allow individuals to express their First Amendment rights.”

But if there is violence and people start throwing items at police and destroying property, “we have to take action,” Hissrich said.

“We hope to God it doesn’t occur,” he said.

Schubert asked Pittsburghers to remain united.

“I like to think of Pittsburgh, no matter what happens, good, bad or indifferent, we have the ability to come together as one and not experience a lot of the things we’ve seen in other cities,” Schubert said. “My hope is that we come together and united and depending on how the verdict goes that we talk about that.”

The city’s police force is working to restore the “trust and legitimacy” of police that’s been questioned across the country.

“We’re trying everything we can to make sure we build that trust and we build that legitimacy,” Schubert said. “Because we’re all we’ve got. We’re in this community together and it’s our responsibility to work together to keep our community safe and to respect each other with dignity.”

Officials would not go into specifics about the preparations for any public gatherings.

In Philadelphia, 1,000 Pennsylvania National Guard have been activated to bolster the city’s response to any unrest.

Pittsburgh officials have worked with other leaders and the state can provide help, if needed, in Pittsburgh, Hissrich said.

“We have contingency plans,” Hissrich said.