Pittsburgh government department promotes 'tactical' civil disobedience training for residents

A Pittsburgh government agency recently promoted what it called a "tactical" civil disobedience training, sparking backlash from critics who said the event encouraged organized resistance against federal law enforcement.

A flyer posted on X (now deleted) by the Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations advertised the event - "Rebirthing Civil Disobedience, Part II" - scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 13, in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania. 

The flyer featured images of law enforcement officers confronting protesters and promoted the event as "tactical training in the art of civil disobedience."

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The flyer encouraged participants to "build your CD muscle," adding that "no experience [was] necessary." It also promoted a featured speaker described as a "practitioner and trainer with extensive experience and legal adviser and human rights attorney."

The promotional material included the logos of Pittsburgh Democratic Socialists of America and 50501 Pittsburgh, the latter describing itself as "a growing network of concerned citizens and volunteers" that pushes back against "the rise of fascist movements, book bans, voter suppression, political violence, and power grabs disguised as patriotism."

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ICE has faced heightened criticism since the shooting of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis.

Good was a Minneapolis-based immigration activist serving as a member of ICE Watch.

One X user replied to the post from the Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations and wrote, "This is the kind of training that Renee had and it cost her her life. It is pathetic and embarrassing that an official city account would promote this nonsense. You're all miserable and the only satisfaction you get is dragging others down with you."

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Christopher J. Soult, deputy director of the City of Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations, told Fox News Digital in a statement that, "It is simple: No City money was spent on this event. We did not sponsor this event. We did not give any free media to this event. We shared a post that had been shared by several of our community partners. This post was for an event that was designed to inform protestors how to work safely, effectively and non-violently. 'Non-violence' is implied by 'civil' disobedience. If people think that is treasonous, then God help them."

ICE, the Pittsburgh Democratic Socialists of America and 50501 Pittsburgh did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's requests for comment.