Make America Great Again Philadelphia March
Things could go ugly in Philadelphia this weekend, and perhaps that'south the point.
By "things," we're talking about dueling events pitting supporters of President Donald Trump and the counter-protesters expressionless set on chasing them out of boondocks on Saturday.
At eleven:30 a.thou., members of the former group volition gather on Independence Mall for the Pennsylvania MAGA (Make America Great Again) March, which is billed equally a show of support for Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, the troops and first responders stateside.
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and counter-protestation in Philadelphia
At the aforementioned time, a nebulous collection of protesters from a diverseness of groups volition meet non too far away for a #DisruptMAGA result intended to push button dorsum against "a group of Trump-worshipping right-wing scum (who will) show support for Donald Trump and his racist, sexist and transphobic policies."
If all goes according to the Trump loyalists' plan – backed by a let to get together – they'll march to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, finding forcefulness in unity while singing the praises of those they support. (The march'due south local organizer, Kevin Efaw, didn't respond to a request for comment on Thursday.)
If all goes according to one counter-protest organizer'south plan – they made a conscious pick not to seek a allow – the march won't make it anywhere most its destination before marchers turn tail and "scurry home to the Lehigh Valley."
That was the focus of a chat I had with a thirty-something organizer on Thursday afternoon at a local coffeehouse.
Brian Hickey, File/PhillyVoice
One protester remained behind after a law line held against marchers trying to get to the Loews Philadelphia Hotel during a Republican conference in February.
He said he was skittish about his proper noun being used because some of his peers are wary of the press and some on the pro-Trump side employ doxxing for intimidation purposes, a particularly troubling prospect since he's a parent.
He also explained that he wanted to talk to publicly weave a safety cyberspace of sorts.
Past sharing their intentions to block the march, they tin't exist written off equally "a terrorist plot to assail police officers and elderly Trump supporters." (To exist fair, there is some dicey talk on the event's Facebook listing that could render that safety internet ineffective, but such is the nature of a motion that lacks a core organizing unit of measurement.)
"Saturday will be proof positive that the resistance is alive and well and continuing to grow." – Active organizer within the "resistance movement"
It besides helps to counter the thought that the protest move has lost some steam, he said.
"Sabbatum will exist proof positive that the resistance is alive and well and continuing to grow," he said, noting that Philadelphia'southward function in the birth of America makes it a perfect identify for a showdown to grab the eyes of the world."I don't know what Saturday will await like – there are a lot of possibilities – but information technology could be a historic occasion. It will exist a show of force."
The organizer said protesters are bracing for disharmonize because of worries that MAGA marchers could follow through on plans to make "citizen's arrests" confronting protesters.And in that location there's an underlying fear, he conceded, that marchers could be carrying "concealed weapons," but that won't impact their delivery.
Taken in the context of our long forenoon chat, information technology became articulate that he views Saturday as an extension of a February 17 protest which saw people injured, a flag burned and people facing felony riot charges after a clash on Northward Broad Street.
File art/for PhillyVoice
Protesters burned a flag at Broad Street and Girard Avenue during a sit-in Fri.
What happens this weekend will analyze whether perceptions of a good working relationship between police and protesters have shifted in contempo weeks, he said.
"Is that the new standard? Did the circumstances created on [Feb] 17th alter the police playbook in these situations? Did the narrative and dynamics of these events change?" he wondered while albeit America's shifting mood leaves him concerned that things are dissimilar now.
He said he knows one important thing, though: He and his "Rebel Authority" peers will again serve as a "guerrilla shield," holding repurposed orangish traffic drums at the front of the counter-protest pack. (In February, that line of defense was "white allies" supporting protesters of color, he said.)
And therein lies the prospect for disharmonize.
He didn't offering many specifics around the counter-protest; they will be revealed when the march starts.
While he plans to be upwardly front in the counter-protest pack, information technology remains unclear whether police will class a line in front of the marchers. (Law enforcement officials justifiably keep deployment and tactical details to themselves in advance of these sorts of events, later all.)
Should that happen, protesters would cake law enforcement from passing through their line and, since he said they won't budge, the prospect for conflict rises.
"It'due south important that we as individuals alter the arrangement and take back as much power equally we tin can," he said, lamenting the "normalization" of the Trump assistants. "The group is an evolving organism, merely the general sense is that we must counter, escalate and resist what'due south happening.
"There is a growing sentiment that nosotros don't know how long it's going to be before they make it illegal to protest. It increasingly seems like we're rapidly budgeted that bespeak."
Though he was light on details, the counter-protester did brand i physical claim about Saturday'due south actions.
"The march volition be disrupted," he said. "They will not march all the way to the Art Museum.
"These fascist enablers will be told to exit because they're not allowed in Philadelphia. We desire them to feel very unwelcome in our urban center. This is not going to be a family unit-friendly event."
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Source: https://www.phillyvoice.com/protest-organizer-saturdays-maga-march-philly-will-be-disrupted/
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