© 2024 Western New York Public Broadcasting Association

140 Lower Terrace
Buffalo, NY 14202

Mailing Address:
Horizons Plaza P.O. Box 1263
Buffalo, NY 14240-1263

Buffalo Toronto Public Media | Phone 716-845-7000
WBFO Newsroom | Phone: 716-845-7040
Your NPR Station
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Juan Santos talks about his experience during Daniel Prude protest

Thomas O'Neil-White

Pepper-sprayed, tear-gassed, hit with a baton and ultimately jailed. That was the experience Buffalo man Juan Santos had in Rochester when protests over the death of Daniel Prude began. Santos talks with WBFO about his experience acting as a human shield between protestors and police and why he cannot not afford to be afraid.

Santos still faces a charge of Unlawful Assembly and has a court date this week.

“The words I can use right now are brutal and disgusting,” he said about his treatment by the Rochester Police Department. Santos told WBFO he will continue protesting police brutality and will not let fear deter him.

Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Thomas moved to Western New York at the age of 14. A graduate of Buffalo State College, he majored in Communications Studies and was part of the sports staff for WBNY. When not following his beloved University of Kentucky Wildcats and Boston Red Sox, Thomas enjoys coaching youth basketball, reading Tolkien novels and seeing live music.
Related Content