Black Lives Matter demonstrators painted "Defund the Police" on East Main Street downtown late yesterday afternoon. City Crews moved in after and began removing the paint.
BLM and the group Save Rochester plan another demonstration today at which they hope to stop traffic on I-490 to highlight their fight against racial injustice. One demonstrator yesterday said the world isn't safe, so why not take the risk of closing the road? Rochester Police plan to monitor the demonstration and try to keep everyone safe, but say they don't want to prevent protests from happening.
The demonstrators will be out on one of the hottest days of the year. The predicted temperature is 94, with the heat index approaching 100. A heat advisory is in effect from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. today for the entire Rochester region, Western New York and the Finger Lakes. The heat index will be at or near 100 degrees, and heat-related illnesses are to be expected. People planning to be outdoors should take precautions.