From Rochester IMC

Rochester, NY— After serving a free “People's Breakfast” outside the convention center from 7:30am-8:45am (an alternative to the Rochester Business Journal's so-called “Power Breakfast” costing $45 inside) 6-7 students and community members entered the Rochester Riverside Convention Center to join the mayoral control discussion happening inside. Unfortunately, the students were met with intense physical force. When students were denied entry they respectfully asked to speak to the manager. Within 15 seconds 4 security guards denied the students access to the manager and began to threaten to arrest people and forcefully grab, manhandle, and push people out of the convention center. In addition to attacking students, one security guard went after a reporter from the Rochester Independent Media Center who was on scene and filming the incident.

All security guards refused to identify themselves and speak about their actions. When Richard Adamson, the events manager, came outside to speak with the students he claimed couldn't speak for the building or the event. He claimed we needed to speak to an unspecified spokesperson for the city. Nobody at the convention center was willing to be accountable to discuss why people couldn't be on the public property so instead of explaining their policy the events manager ordered immediate and excessive use of force.

A number of students and community members served a People's Breakfast outside the convention center and were interested in joining the mayoral control discussion inside because people shouldn't be excluded from Mayor Duffy's first forum on mayoral control on the basis of money. Although this forum was officially open to the public, it was economically restrictive and at 8:30am-10:00am on a weekday--a time when even district students and parents who could afford the breakfast were are unable to attend.

Even worse, district students under age 17 who were walking down Main Street in front of the convention center were apprehended by police for “truancy” and immediately taken to school. As we have previously stated, Rochester Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) believes the mayor's dialogue with students and parents on mayoral control has been woefully inadequate. Rochester SDS continues to call for open students-run forums where students can inform and engage the mayor on their needs and the the topic of mayoral control.

For more information contact:
Ryan Acuff (585) 455-0961
Tim Adams (585) 739-0376