Groups Upset Over G-20 Oakland Arrests Plan Rally Today

PITTSBURGH -- Several groups upset over the police response at the University of Pittsburgh during the G-20 economic summit plan a rally today in Oakland and want an investigation into police activity.

WTAE

The local chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, the Thomas Merton Center, One HOOD and Mothers Against Conviction Of The Innocent are holding what they say will be a peaceful rally at Forbes Avenue and Bigelow Boulevard from 5:30 to 7 p.m.The groups say police conducted unlawful mass arrests and used excessive force on Sept. 24 and 25 in Schenley Plaza.

Today's rally will allow people to tell their stories and they'll be asked to sign a petition calling for reconciliation by the university and city.Police arrested about 190 people during the two-day summit last week.

Many arrestees are Pitt students.Some charges have been dropped and police say they'll evaluate cases individually.Preliminary hearings at Municipal Court downtown for 49 of the arrestees were postponed on Wednesday until late October.Six people agreed on Wednesday to do community service and get their charges dropped in exchange.

Most of those cases are summary offenses involving failure to disperse.