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Homeless organizers, police expect today's rally outside City Hall to stay peaceful

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Homeless protesters promise no sidewalks or entrances will be blocked during today's demonstration at City Hall. (Courtesy photo)

ROCHESTER - Today's rally for the homeless is expected to include some civil disobedience, but Rochester's police chief and the lead organizer have worked out a scenario that should keep the public safe while showcasing the need for more homeless resources in the city, they say.

The rally will run from 3-5 p.m. in the front of City Hall on Wakefield Street, with protesters carrying signs and rally organizer Don Mccullough and perhaps others speaking to supporters and the public about the plight of local homeless.

"It's really meant to allow them to advocate for themselves; they have no voice," said Mccullough, who expects some 50 or so demonstrators to show up.

"Hopefully members of the public will engage with them, get to know them a little bit," said Mccullough, a former Rochester firefighters and now of Tri-City Coop, a homeless advocacy nonprofit located on Summer Street.

As agreed upon with Rochester Police Chief Paul Toussaint, there will be no blocking of sidewalks or entrances to City Hall.

Mccullough, who was earlier denied by city officials to have a band with a sound system, said he may push the envelope by using a bullhorn to speak but that if police ask him to stop, he will comply.

When the rally is over protesters will leave, but a smaller group will return around 8:30 p.m. to pitch a tent in violation of a recently enacted city tent ban on public property. The symbolic act of civil disobedience is expected to end with a summons for Mccullough to appear in Rochester District court where he will be represented by an ALCU lawyer in an attempt to shed more light on the homeless problem.

Toussaint said he and Mayor Caroline McCarley reached out to Mccullough after his initial permit was denied, because he supports citizens' right to peaceful protest.

"The bottom line is Don organized this and he gave me his word it will be peaceful," said Toussaint, who added he expected no police presence at the rally.

He said police will, however, be there at dusk to deliver a summons to Mccullough when he does pitch the tent around 8:30 p.m.

Interestingly, one detail that is still unclear today is how the logistics of the summons will play out. According to its language, a tent must be erected for two hours after dusk before it is a violation.

Whether protesters will have to wait till 10:30 to get their summons is uncertain. Mccullough said he hopes not.

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