Photo: Mackenzie Courtney
Natalia Holliday, 28, of Bellevue

Story by: Katrice Stallworth

 According to Statista, this year, 138 males were murdered by officers nationwide. In the affected cities, numerous protests, articles, and interviews occurred due to the loss of residents, but never occurred in memoriam of a Pittsburgh native until Tuesday, June 19. On this day, Pittsburgh made national news featuring the murder of 17-year-old, Antwon Rose.

            Officer Michael H. Rosfeld pulled over a vehicle, which Antwon rode in,  because it matched the description of a vehicle present at a previous shooting. Antwon’s companion was placed in custody. While Antwon and another passenger sprinted away from the vehicle, Officer Rosfeld shot Antwon Rose three times in his back, ending his life. He was found with an empty gun clip on him.   

This murder, particularly, resonated with residents of Pittsburgh.

In an interview with Natalia Holliday, 28, of Bellevue, Holliday expressed her initial reaction to the shooting in the following quote: “One of the national things is in Pittsburgh now.” In other words, the plague of unjust murder has finally infected Pittsburgh. Residents of Pittsburgh are working tirelessly with protests to spread awareness to the police brutality that Antwon faced. Holliday believed that police brutality cases show the unrealistic and unjust “power dynamic” that some police officers have over people of color. In discussion, Holliday explained that she prefers emotion over cynicism; therefore, justifying the protests.

Erik, 31, of Penn Hills, who declined to give his last name, however, did not completely support the protests. He believed that it is “good to keep police accountable for doing their jobs properly,” but closing off the parkway for protests is an act of civil disobedience. Erik feels that protests with good causes, like that of Antwon Rose, should work toward not having negative effects like the closing of the parkway due to their closings inconveniencing workers and drivers. On Monday, June 25, Antwon Rose was celebrated during his funeral in Swissvale. According to a  Twitter post by Allegheny County DA, ‘the investigation will be addressed after the grieving process and funeral.’ More updates on the investigation will be soon available. Until then, as Erik said, “Its a never ending protest.”