Students Denied Entry to Mayor's Address, Demand Accountability

Rochester, NY -- At 7:00 pm 13 members of Rochester Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) arrived at the Rochester Memorial Art Galley intending to listen to Mayor Robert Duffy's State of the City address. Despite there being space in the main room and an abundance of space in the overflow room, 10 members of Rochester SDS were denied entry to the event. When two SDS members who were previously inside went to find out about the problem outside, they were denied reentry. It is very telling that while these students were being escorted off museum property, steel magnate and charter school director Joe Klein was being escorted in--that is, into the rooms that were allegedly "to capacity."

Rochester SDS has been a vocal opponent to Mayor Duffy's plan to takeover the Rochester City School District. It appears that members of SDS were denied entry for their political beliefs and nothing more. This incident has been consistent with the mayor's entire approach to mayoral control. The mayor has repeatedly claimed to put "students and children first", and yet in practice, students (and parents) have been the most marginalized in discussions around mayoral control. We are demanding accountability for these actions. We will be following up to find out who from the city and/or the police department gave the order to specifically deny members of Rochester SDS entry to the event.

Additionally, we would like to invite all media outlets and community members to join us in participating in the public discussion with the mayor Tuesday May 4, 7pm at Phillis Wheatley Community Library (33 Samuel Mccree Way).