No War Tax in Smugtown! 2 demonstrators and 3 witnesses arrested by police

On the evening of April 15, three activists were handing out literature and holding signs protesting war spending in front of the IRS building on East Ave. in Downtown Rochester. One of the demonstrators climbed a tree and held a sign that read "Cut War Spending."

With little to no negotiation skills, the first two officers to arrive at the scene threatened to taser Emily from the tree and place her under mental health arrest if she didn't comply with their orders to get down. Shortly thereafter, they called in six others police cars and two firetrucks to the scene. Three police officers used a firetruck ladder to get to Emily in the tree. One officer pepper sprayed her in the eyes at point blank range and forcefully removed her from the tree.

Before the Emily was removed and arrested, Mary, who was holding an anti-war tax sign under the tree that Emily was sitting in, was arrested for trespassing. Ben and Jake were arrested after chanting, behind police lines, "No Justice, No Peace! Fuck the Police!" Ted was arrested after asking the officers what the charges were against Ben and Jake.