Starting a Tuesday Philly protest thread. I’m at Malcolm X Park in West Philly, where people are starting to gather ahead of planned demonstrations tonight. I’ll have updates for @delawareonline & the USA Today network.
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The scene here as a few hundred have gathered in the park, which is about a mile from the home of Walter Wallace Jr. His family is expected to speak later tonight outside their home.pic.twitter.com/0vnP4AX0Yz
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Not much has changed here. Bunch of different speakers calling for defunding or abolishing police, criticism of both presidential tickets, etc. Unclear at this point if this group, which is a few hundred people, plans on taking to the streets.
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Harsh criticism of the Biden/Harris ticket from a speaker from Black Lives Matter Philly. “How the fuck we gonna be out here talking about abolish the police all summer and then go home and cheer Biden/Harris?” References Biden’s Crime Bill and “top cop” Kamala Harris.
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Side note: Multiple police helicopters swarming around West Philly right now.
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“There are too many comfortable white people in Malcolm X Park right now,” speaker says.
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Crossroads at 51st/Market. One group went west on Market toward precinct. The other went east.
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Cars have been honking to show support. This just north of 52/Spruce.pic.twitter.com/v3ToM7UKDZ
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A line of police behind a barricade here at 55th and Pine.pic.twitter.com/eeEOCSXFry
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This guy is here. Hundreds of people are to the left of where I’m showing you the police line, East on Pine between 55/54. There is a small walkway to get by.pic.twitter.com/AJJvOcoce9
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This is Michael “OG Law” Ta’Bon, a community activist. “I can’t believe police can’t just one time admit when they’re wrong,” he said. “You’re going to war with children whose parents pay your tax dollars.”
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A man who said he was trying to home appeared to break the barricade line. He was taken into custody. Things have slightly escalated since the group arrived at this corner.
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A few water bottles were just tossed at police. Somehow it appeared both missed all the shields and landed on the ground. A bloop single, some might say.
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A large group of people just peeled off from this blockade at the precinct and are on the move.
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Police forced west on Delancey from 52nd. A few hundred people out here. Group of officers appeared to be around a dozen or two.pic.twitter.com/3NAFjVUnvw
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Dozens of bike cops and a few vehicles just ripped it up north on 52nd from Spruce.
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Now dozens of vehicles flooring it that way.
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Large police presence at 52nd and Market. Took us a while to get down here as some roads were blocked.pic.twitter.com/t4vo4I4c5H
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