ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Community members, legislators, and local advocates gathered at Jefferson Avenue and Dr. Samuel McCree Way to honor the life of Daniel Prude and advocate for mental health.

During the event, speakers called for the passage of Daniel's Law legislation, which proposes a peer-led non-police response to mental health crises. The legislation and event are named after Prude, a man who died in 2020 following an encounter with police as he was experiencing a mental health crisis.

During the 2025 legislative session, organizers reported that Daniel's Law passed the New York State Mental Health Committee, which allocated $6 million in funds in the 2026 fiscal year budget to be used for pilot programs of peer-led crisis response teams. State funding of over $2 million was a

See Full Page