Black Lives Matter protesters in Rochester, New York, mobbed a Wegmans grocery store on Tuesday afternoon, trapping an estimated 100 customers inside.
Video shows protesters chanting “Black Lives Matter” and referring to Daniel Prude, a black man who died about a week after a viral encounter with the Rochester Police Department. The state’s Democratic Attorney General announced last month that a grand jury will not seek charges against officers involved in the incident.
Before heading to the grocery store, protesters yelled, “We have a long walk today, we’re shutting s*** down,” according to 13WHAM-TV reporter Michael Schwartz.
“We have a long walk today, we’re shutting s&*! down.”
Around 200 people have now closed down intersection of East & Alexander, continuing eastbound Police keeping distance, closing surrounded streets.@13WHAM #ROC pic.twitter.com/rVbs2Gjvos
— Michael_Schwartz (@MSchwartzWHAM) March 23, 2021
An estimated 200 protesters then made their way to the Wegmans grocery store on East Ave.
NOW IN ROCHESTER: More than 200 people have walked more than 2 miles with plans to disrupt. They’re approaching East Ave Wegmans. #DanielPrude pic.twitter.com/3e45DRfU7e
— Michael_Schwartz (@MSchwartzWHAM) March 23, 2021
The store was mobbed and forced to close, as an estimated 100 customers remained locked inside.
BREAKING: East Ave Wegmans shut down pic.twitter.com/dcWqxmutC4
— Michael_Schwartz (@MSchwartzWHAM) March 23, 2021
Schwartz reported, “The group has set up here at East Ave. Wegmans. Cars following have carried these supplies. Last time I saw a tent setup was at Occupy City Hall. Shoppers cannot leave.”
The group has set up here at East Ave. Wegmans. Cars following have carried these supplies. Last time I saw a tent setup was at Occupy City Hall. Shoppers cannot leave. pic.twitter.com/5mFggc5qax
— Michael_Schwartz (@MSchwartzWHAM) March 23, 2021
“Hundreds of people trapped in the East Avenue #ROC Wegmans by this mob,” Rochester journalist and radio host Bob Lonsberry said. “The Rochester Police Department is just watching and letting it happen. I guess fire codes and trespassing aren’t things in Rochester anymore. What an embarrassing day for the city and the PD.”
Hundreds of people trapped in the East Avenue #ROC Wegmans by this mob. The Rochester Police Department is just watching and letting it happen. I guess fire codes and trespassing aren't things in Rochester anymore. What an embarrassing day for the city and the PD. https://t.co/ICeNJy5jGK
— Bob Lonsberry (@BobLonsberry) March 23, 2021
— Justin Murphy (@CitizenMurphy) March 23, 2021
Democrat & Chronicle reporter Justin Murphy posted, “There are a bunch of shoppers inside Wegmans who aren’t being allowed to leave.”
“We’re more than just taxpayers in their capitalist system; we’re human beings and we demand to be treated as such,” said protester Craig Carson.
Local organizer Ashley Gantt said, “The officers that killed Daniel Prude don’t live in our community; they live in the suburbs and out here.”
Craig Carson: “We’re more than just taxpayers in their capitalist system; we’re human beings and we demand to be treated as such.”
— Justin Murphy (@CitizenMurphy) March 23, 2021
Pizza is coming soon, I’m told pic.twitter.com/XUxP8TRvh4
— Justin Murphy (@CitizenMurphy) March 23, 2021
In the Wegmans parking lot, chaos is continuing. “An argument just took place with a Wegmans customer. East Ave Wegmans remains closed at this time,” reported Scott Barstow.
An argument just took place with a Wegmans customer. East Ave Wegmans remains closed at this time. #roc @SPECNewsROC pic.twitter.com/YGVQ139LvT
— scott barstow (@barstow_scott) March 23, 2021
“Allowing the mob to shut down the East Ave [Wegmans], trapping at least a hundred people, is an immoral failing by the mayor at @CityRochesterNY and the @RochesterNYPD,” Lonsberry commented. “To kiss the a** of the mob, the rights of others are trodden, and the city dies even more.”
Allowing the mob to shut down the East Ave @Wegmans, trapping at least a hundred people, is an immoral failing by the mayor at @CityRochesterNY and the @RochesterNYPD. To kiss the ass of the mob, the rights of others are trodden, and the city dies even more.
— Bob Lonsberry (@BobLonsberry) March 23, 2021
As reported by The Daily Wire, police reports indicated Prude was restrained by officers while waiting for the ambulance the cops summoned. Video suggests this was done soon after Prude told officers, “Give me your gun, I need it.”
As noted by Forbes, Prude “had been taken to the local hospital for suicidal thoughts about eight hours before his encounter with police on March 22.”
Body camera footage shows that cops were physically restraining Prude for about two minutes, and, according to media reports, the 41-year-old threw up and lost consciousness. He was reportedly resuscitated on the way to the hospital but likely suffered severe brain damage and was pulled from life support about a week later by his family.
Notably, Prude had a mesh-like hood placed over his head, dubbed a “spit hood.” The device is used to protect officers from saliva. Prude was repeatedly spitting and reportedly telling people he had COVID. (The interaction with police was in March, in the early days of the novel coronavirus pandemic.)
An autopsy report from the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office, according to WXXI News, “listed the cause of Prude’s death as ‘complications of asphyxia in the setting of physical restraint due to excited delirium due to acute phencyclidine intoxication,’ an indication that Prude might have been high on PCP.”
A portion of the police report reads: “(The paramedic) stated that the observations of the subject were that he could be experiencing ‘excited delirium,’ which she described as a condition in which the subject is experiencing agitation and aggression; increased heart rate and respiration; overheating — which she stated would explain the subject being naked on a night when temperatures were around 32 degrees and mixed snow and precipitation — sweating, flushed appearance; excessive strength, a high tolerance for pain and incoherent speech.”
UPDATE: Wegmans posted a tweet Tuesday afternoon informing the public that customers were allowed out of the store, though it remains closed.
“Our East Ave. store in Rochester, NY is currently closed due to protest activity taking place outside of the store,” the tweet said. “At this time, no customers remain in the store, and the doors will remain closed. Our number one priority is the safety of our employees and customers.”
Our East Ave. store in Rochester, NY is currently closed due to protest activity taking place outside of the store. At this time, no customers remain in the store, and the doors will remain closed. Our number one priority is the safety of our employees and customers.
— Wegmans Food Markets (@Wegmans) March 23, 2021