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Plans to counter controversial protest planned for Saturday

EAST LIBERTY, Pa. — Just days before a controversial protest in Pittsburgh, plans to counter it are in the works.

“We don't have this active outside presence trying to harm anyone in this city,” said Daeja Baker, an organizer.

Channel 11’s photographer was not allowed inside a planning meeting Tuesday night in East Liberty to counter a protest that is planned to take place outside of the Google building in Bakery Square on Saturday.

“We don't want our residents to be in the spotlight and to basically have all of their thoughts and feelings recorded,” Baker said.

Although we weren't allowed inside, the meeting was broadcast on Facebook Live and seen by hundreds of people.

Organizers told us they're planning how to peacefully counter.

“I do envision a lot of people showing up on Saturday,”  said Ron Gaydos, of Squirrel Hill.

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The protest is being organized by Jack Posobiec, a Pennsylvania native who is known as an "alt-right" media figure.

The event is one of nine nationwide and is marketed as a First Amendment rally, in which protesters will stand up against Google which fired an employee who wrote a manifesto that disparaged women.

The website for the March on Google says this is not an "alt-right" event, but a lot of people are concerned.

Posobiec told our news partners at the Pittsburgh Tribune Review the march may not happen because of threats of violence on social media by people opposed to it.

This, of course, is happening before the wounds from the violence in Charlottesville have healed.

Community members getting ready for Saturday say their goal is simple: “We're all marching for peace and we're all just gathering and making sure that we're all feeling safe and all feeling good."

Channel 11 has been checking and city leaders say they have not received permits from protest organizers.

 

Cox Media Group

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