The video captures a tense interaction between individuals engaged in what appears to be public advocacy or information distribution and a representative of the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt), identified as "Lincoln." The core of the dispute revolves around the designated location for their activity. Lincoln asserts that the area where the individuals are situated is Pitt property and requires a reservation, despite the individuals' claim that they are on the public sidewalk.

The individuals, who identify themselves as Nathan and Russell, state that they frequently conduct similar activities on public university grounds and are accustomed to encountering such restrictions. Lincoln reiterates that Pitt has space use policies that necessitate reservations for certain areas. The individuals express skepticism, suggesting that university policies, even if valid, should not prevent them from occupying a public sidewalk, and they are generally mindful of not obstructing pedestrian traffic.

Lincoln informs them that the police have been called. The individuals acknowledge this, noting that they have encountered similar situations at other universities where the police ultimately permit their activities, especially when they are on public property and exercising First Amendment rights. The interaction concludes with Lincoln reiterating the university's policy and the individuals expressing their understanding, albeit with an underlying disagreement about the property's designation.

Abolitionists Rising

So this isn't public property. This isn't the property. This is the public sidewalk. So Pitt not a public university? It is, but this space requires reservation. So I just need you to be on the public sidewalk. So is it Interesting. Is it a uh like a University of Pitt um It's a public university. Like it is it like a We have space use policies and it requires reservation.

The people who do what we do, we do it a lot. We do it on public universities. And there's always people like you that try to say this and you say it as much as you want, but it doesn't change.

Okay. Well, I'm I'm telling you our policies.

I know. I'll let the police know if you disagree with me and then Yeah, I was just hugging a policeman right there. Okay. That's So So that's that's our policy. That's my job. I'm not trying to be a jerk. I'm just telling you it's like your policies, whatever they're they are, whatever you think they are, are not going to be robust enough to tell us to move 2 ft over there, which I might move 2 ft over there if I find it to be a better, but I generally don't like obstructing uh you know, so I try to stay somewhere where it's like easy to get around me if people want to get around. Thank you. Let me know if you got questions. All righty. Hi. Oh, hey there. Hi, are you? I'm Karen. I'm Nathan. I was just chatting with uh the the Lincoln Uh there was a meeting. I'm Nathan. That's Russell. Um um So this we really need to be on the public sidewalk. Sure.

This is Pitt property right here. You guys are getting class changes in 14 minutes. So like right there is the prime spot. Right. Um but it's got to be on the public sidewalk, not on Pitt property. Yeah, did you happen to call the police already? Yes. Um who did you want to have them call us? Sure. Okay. Just cuz like you You it's like every every university has their policies and it always ends up being this thing where it's like, "Oh, yes, that's their policy, but it is school property and it's first amendment activity." So, this ends up being a Yeah, I know.

And usually the police are like, "No, you're good." Okay, yeah. I'll tell them. I appreciate that. Thank you. Thank you.

Karen tries to move us

>> The people who do what we do, we do it a

>> I know. I'll let the police know if you

So this isn't public property.
>> This isn't the property. This is the
public sidewalk. So Pitt not a public
university?
It is, but this space requires
reservation. So I just need you to be on
the public sidewalk. So is it
Interesting. Is it a uh
like a University of Pitt um
It's a public university. Like it is it
like a We have space use policies and it
requires reservation.
>> The people who do what we do, we do it a
lot. We do it on public universities.
And there's always people like you that
try to say this and you say it as much
as you want, but it doesn't change.
>> Okay. Well, I'm I'm telling you our
policies.
>> I know. I'll let the police know if you
disagree with me and then
>> Yeah, I was just hugging a policeman
right there. Okay. That's So So that's
that's our policy. That's my job. I'm
not trying to be a jerk. I'm just
telling you it's like
your policies, whatever they're they
are, whatever you think they are, are
not going to be robust enough
to tell us to move 2 ft over there,
which I might move 2 ft over there if I
find it to be a better, but I generally
don't like obstructing
uh you know, so I try to stay somewhere
where it's like easy to get around me
if people want to get around. Thank you.
Let me know if you got questions. All
righty.
Hi.
Oh, hey there. Hi, are you? I'm Karen.
I'm Nathan. I was just chatting with uh
the
the Lincoln
Uh there was a meeting. I'm Nathan.
That's Russell. Um um
So this
we really need to be on the public
sidewalk. Sure.
>> This is Pitt property right here. You
guys are getting class changes in 14
minutes. So like right there is the
prime spot. Right. Um but it's got to be
on the public sidewalk, not on Pitt
property. Yeah, did you happen to call
the police
already? Yes.
Um
who did you want to have them call us?
Sure. Okay.
Just cuz like you You it's like every
every university has their policies and
it always ends up being this thing where
it's like, "Oh, yes, that's their
policy, but it is school property and
it's first amendment activity." So, this
ends up being a
Yeah, I know.
>> And usually the police are like, "No,
you're good."
Okay, yeah. I'll tell them. I appreciate
that.
>> Thank you. Thank you.

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Karen tries to move us

Transcription