These lawyers are offering free or discounted representation for arrested protesters
On Mon., June 8, the Allegheny County District Attorney’s office announced that the charges for 39 cases related to recent protests have been dropped. The exact number of total cases still active is unknown, but an assistant from Lisa Middleman’s office estimated the number of arrests to be around 70. That would mean there are still…
Pittsburgh music news roundup: upcoming livestreams, festival updates, and more
There’s a great deal going on in Pittsburgh and the world at large right now. Because of this, I’ve personally had a hard time keeping up with arts and entertainment news. I’ve been alternating my focus between protest and political happenings and taking social media breaks to not overload my mental health. In case you’re…
Video shows Pittsburgh Police arresting and pinning woman to ground in East Liberty before deploying tear gas at onlookers
The police response to the protests in East Liberty on Mon., June 1 has come under intense scrutiny. The protest ended with Pittsburgh Police confronting marchers on Centre Avenue in East Liberty and firing sponge rounds and tear gas at protesters. Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto, after initially backing the police claims that officers were responding to…
This summer, Lawrenceville farmers market is doubling as fundraising site for Black-led organizations
For the rest of their season, the Lawrenceville farmers market will not only serve as a place for Pittsburghers to access fresh food, but as a fundraising site for local Black-led organizations. The popular farmers market announced via Instagram last week that “in recognition and solidarity with the current protests in response to enduring police…
Lynn Cullen Live – 6/9/20
Video Archive The writings of James Baldwin is where Lynn and Susan are starting today. What he wrote is still so relevant today. They are also talking about an Atlantic article by David Petraeus on renaming military bases which are named for Confederate officers. Then there is the video of Kimberly Jones “How Can You…
Black Pittsburgh artists respond to graffiti protest mural produced by white team
Anyone traveling Downtown will now be met with a powerful statement: a mural declaring Black Lives Matter, writ large across a 750-foot-long section of wall along the Allegheny River. But despite supporting the message, which was put up in response to days of protests incited by George Floyd, a Black Minnesota man killed in police…
Photos: Public defenders help lead Black Lives Matter protest in Downtown Pittsburgh
On Monday afternoon, around 150 Black Lives Matter protesters gathered outside of the Allegheny County Courthouse in coordination with public defenders. Lisa Middleman, Bethany Hallam, and others were in attendance. Various protesters spoke of personal stories and offered advice for white allies in between chants of the names of those who had died at the…
Mayor Peduto says he has a ‘hard time believing that we’d be a safer society without police officers’ during interview Monday
On Monday, Mayor Bill Peduto joined criminal-justice publication The Appeal for a livestreamed interview to offer his thoughts on the movement to defund police, and whether he can see a future without police. Peduto said he would consider shifting some funding for police elsewhere, but that ultimately he doesn’t think the community would be safer…
Pittsburgh City Paper promises community it will continue working to improve coverage and outreach
Pittsburgh media, including Pittsburgh City Paper, has a diversity problem. Over the past week, readers watched as the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette first silenced a Black female reporter, pulled a Black photojournalist from protest coverage, then removed two stories from its website after two colleagues showed public support. But the Post-Gazette isn’t alone. Letrell Crittenden, program director and assistant…
Dozens of Post-Gazette journalists allegedly ‘conflicted out’ of covering protests; union reaffirms its support of Alexis Johnson and Michael Santiago
Today, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette energy reporter Anya Litvak announced on Twitter that Post-Gazette management told her that 110 journalists at the newspaper have been “conflicted out” of covering protests in relation to George Floyd. Union representation for P-G staffers says they cannot confirm this figure. She wrote that everyone who followed the instructions of the Newspaper…
Arts and cultural centers set to reopen as Allegheny County goes green
After months of cancellations and closings in response to COVID-19, some local arts and cultural institutions are finally set to reopen. The Heinz History Center museums and The Frick Pittsburgh announced plans to welcome the public back in July. This comes just a few days after Allegheny County entered the green phase, allowing spaces to…
Lynn Cullen Live – 6/8/20
Video Archive Lynn is reflecting on her time as a young woman in the 60s, when she was in the streets protesting. The Kerner Commission Report that came from that time is still relevant, but unfortunately nothing really came from it. She is hoping that now is the time that change is finally achieved. After…
Pittsburghers march in protest from Mount Washington to Downtown on day nine of Black Lives Matter demonstrations
Today, more than 500 people gathered in Mount Washington for a protest in honor of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, two Black people who were recently killed by police officers in Minneapolis and Louisville, respectively. The protest was organized by Pittsburgh I Can’t Breathe, which has held at least three protests since Pittsburghers started demonstrating…
Interview: Alexis Johnson, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter barred from protest coverage, shares gratitude for overwhelming support from allies
By Fri., June 5, Alexis Johnson was quickly becoming a bit of a household name. Johnson, a Black journalist at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, was removed from George Floyd protest coverage after management claimed she showed bias after she posted a viral tweet on May 31, poking fun at the mess typically made outside of Kenny…
Teenagers lead peaceful sit-in at Bakery Square in Pittsburgh’s East End
Saturday marked the eighth consecutive day of action in Pittsburgh in response to the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police, the killing of Breonna Taylor by Louisville police, and other incidents of police brutality across the country. The protest, a sit-in at Bakery Square in Pittsburgh’s Larimer neighborhood, was organized by Black, Young &…
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette removes protest and police brutality stories from website following protests from union members
Late in the evening on June 5, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette removed two stories from its website that were shared earlier in the day on the paper’s social media platform. One story was written by P-G reporter Lauren Lee and summarized a march that snaked through Pittsburgh East End in honor of George Floyd, a Black…
Photos: A peaceful protest marches from Bloomfield to Mayor Bill Peduto’s home in Point Breeze
On Friday afternoon, a protest organized by Allies for Black Lives and Pittsburgh Feminists for Intersectional marked the seventh consecutive day of action in Pittsburgh in response to nationwide incidents of police brutality. The protest began around noon at Friendship Park, then marched through Bloomfield and Shadyside, before ending up in Point Breeze. The end…
Post-Gazette staffers are posting tweet that got a Black reporter removed from protest coverage in solidarity
After the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh revealed, via letter, that the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette had removed Black reporter Alexis Johnson from coverage of George Floyd protests in Pittsburgh, a number of local journalists flooded social media today with messages of support and solidarity. According to the letter, Johnson was excluded from protest coverage because of a…
As Port Authority rolls back coronavirus policies, transit advocates urge extending reduced fares
Local transit advocacy group Pittsburghers for Public Transit (PPT) led 31 speakers to testify at the monthly Port Authority of Allegheny County board meeting on May 29 to discuss fares, public engagement, overcrowding, and funding, as well as the importance of maintaining those as the pandemic continues. Port Authority, which instated new policies to mitigate…
Photos: Peaceful protest travels miles through Pittsburgh on sixth consecutive day of Black Lives Matter demonstrations
On the day that a service was held for George Floyd in Minneapolis, Thursday’s protest traveled quite the distance through Pittsburgh. Starting in Downtown Pittsburgh in front of the Wood Street T Station, hundreds of peaceful protesters made their way to the Allegheny County Jail where they laid down on the ground with their signs,…
Progressive female candidates sweep 2020 Pennsylvania primary election in Allegheny County
Progressive women in Allegheny County dominated this year’s Pennsylvania primary elections. In four local contested Democratic races, women running on progressive platforms bested their more moderate competitions. These races include city of Pittsburgh neighborhoods and suburban communities. Though results are still unofficial, State Rep. Summer Lee (D-Swissvale) has declared victory in her race to hold onto…
Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto admits police reports ‘were wrong’ about Monday’s protest, calls for independent investigations
On Thursday morning, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto held a press conference to address use of force by police officers against protesters on Mon., June 1. He presented ideas for police reform, including endorsing the “8 Can’t Wait” campaign, and backed use-of-force legislation introduced by Rep. Summer Lee (D-Swissvale) and Ed Gainey (D-East Liberty). Protesters and…
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette removes a Black reporter from George Floyd protest coverage, says union
According to the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh, a Black reporter at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has been recently barred from covering protests in honor of George Floyd, a Black man killed last week by a Minneapolis Police officer Pittsburgh City Paper obtained a letter that was sent to members of the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh, which…
Local musicians rally to donate their Bandcamp earnings to Black Lives Matter causes
On Fri., June 5, for the third time since the start of the pandemic, Bandcamp is waiving a share of its sales to support artists impacted by COVID-19. Musicians in Pittsburgh are taking it a step further. Instead of taking the funds for themselves, 100% of the money profits earned will be donated to Black…
Lynn Cullen Live – 6/4/20
Video Archive Barack Obama’s virtual Town Hall meeting from yesterday has raised Lynn’s spirits. She was moved by the young people who spoke. In addition to the Town Hall Lynn is discussing statements on the protests, and George Floyd’s death from religious leaders, and former Presidents Bush, Clinton, and Carter. Locally in Pittsburgh, Mayor Peduto…
Lynn Cullen Live – 6/3/20
Video Archive A moment between a protester and National Guardsmen yesterday moved Lynn, and she’s talking about the powerful moment today. In addition to the protests, Lynn is discussing Mark Esper calling cities with protests “battle spaces”, responses to what is going on by former CIA operatives, primary election results, and much more. Audio Only…
Pandemic Crossword
DOWN 1. App for Gen-Z 2. Local univ., briefly 3. Not delivery of dining in 7. App criticized for sticking it to restaurants 10. Extra in Romero film 12. How meetings take place now 17. First name of a local kangaroo or a perennially visiting country star (not this year) 19. Stuff to keep you…
Pittsburgh Songs To Warsh Your Hands To
Even when we reach the green phase, you still should be scrubbing your hands for 20 seconds. (Don’t make us go back to red or yellow, people!) Some recommend singing the “Happy Birthday” song, but we have better plans. “This Is the End (For You My Friend)” by Anti-Flag This is the end for you…
Where’s the mask?
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Pandemic Word Search
When the pandemic forced events to close, many Pittsburgh arts organizations moved programming online. Can you find some of our favorites? See page two for solution.
Yinzer Quarantine Scavenger Hunt
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Redd Up! These Jumbled Words
The letters of the words above are in the wrong order! Clean them up by figuring out what words they spell and write them in the boxes below the letters. Now it’s time to solve the puzzle! Study the picture for a hint, then rearrange the letters in the circles above to fill in the…
Pittsburgh Pandemic Coloring and Activity Issue
No matter what stage of the pandemic you’re in, the masks stay on and the social distancing continues. Whether you’re in the red, yellow, or green phase, we created some fun coloring and activity pages to fill the time while you’re stuck at home waiting for your favorite events and business to reopen. Pandemic Crossword…
