Reverend Lewis Stewart, president of the United Christian Leadership Ministry, is responding to the recent string of vandalism and looting in Rochester following a peaceful protest.

"The protest rally on Saturday at the Martin Luther King park was diverse and well organized and a sincere call for justice," said Stewart.

What You Need To Know


  • Rev. Lewis Stewart spoke out against looting and vandalism during protests in Rochester

  • He also addressed the video showing a woman being beaten outside a store in Rochester and the possibility of her using a racial slur

  • Rev. Lewis says people should be mindful of the words used in anger

  • But says people need to walk away and not respond to ignorance

Reverend Stewart agrees with several local leaders who say outsiders of the Black Lives Matter movement were agitators who instigated chaos.

"I urge peaceful protestors to not allow these people with another agenda to hijack your protest demonstrations. What has this to do with the memory of George Floyd?" Stewart said. "His murder and the murders of every black man and woman since the founding of this country must have meaning."

Stewart also commented on a video taken in Rochester. It shows a tenant, Madison Mavity, who lives in a building on Monroe Avenue, coming outside to help defend the storefront from looters late Saturday.

"I was just trying to get them away," said Mavity.

Surveillance and cell phone video shows a vicious attack.

"Those guys that engaged in that behavior need to be arrested. They need to be found and arrested. Because if it can't be justice for all, then it's justice for nobody," said Stewart.

"One kid in the orange hoodie just tried to come at me, my husband tried to defend me. But he grabbed my shirt and pulled me around and down and that's when they see him grab my head," said Mavity.

The video has received a lot of comments on social media. Not only outrage for the attack, but also for what Mavity may have said. Thirty seconds in, she's heard saying something to the men before the attack, some believe it's a racial slur.

Spectrum News reached out to Mavity who was not available for comment. An investigation into the attack is underway.

"That would just light the fuse to it," Stewart said.

Reverend Stewart provided insight after learning a racial slur may have been used. 

He says while he doesn't condone their actions...

"I think we have to be so careful with the words we use in anger and frustration. On the other hand, I've been called by the N-word too and you may get angry but you grit your teeth and you keep on walking. A lot of times you don't respond to ignorance. There has to be a walking away so that violence has no teeth to seek itself into," said Stewart.

"I think one of the wonderful things I saw was everyone working together in order to clean up after the looting. That was a powerful message," he added.