Library Protesters Rally and March to City Hall

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Saturday, December 6th, 2008 at 4:33 pm - by Stephanie Marudas. Filed under: Budget, Politics.

Protesters rally on front steps of the Central Branch

The cold did not keep away 200 library protesters this afternoon for a rally at the Free Library’s Central Branch. Philadelphia City Council members, elected state officials from the city, activists and residents bundled up and pledged to reverse Mayor Michael Nutter’s decision to shut down 11 neighborhood branches at the end of this month. Many protesters expressed anger towards Nutter, including Philadelphia Student Union executive director Nijimie Dzurinko, and said he’s turning his back on educational promises he made when running for office. “The Mayor campaigned on reducing the dropout rate and the crime rate, and closing libraries and pools and fire stations is not going to move towards those goals,” said Dzurinko.

Nutter is closing facilities and reducing municipal jobs to help fill a $108 million spending hole by the end of June. Logan resident Ethel Brown is upset about the pending closure of the Logan branch, where she’s been a devoted patron for the last 30 years. She questions the Mayor’s decision to close libraries:

”We’ve always been taught, knowledge is power. So what are you trying to take away from us? Our power? Or, our knowledge? Are you taking us back to the cave[man's] age?”

After the rally wrapped up, the crowd started marching. Musicians with the West Philadelphia Orchestra led the group through the streets playing Eastern European brass band tunes, while the protesters chanted “Budget Cuts- NO! Libraries- YES!”

The march from the Central Branch winds around Logan Square in front of the Franklin Institute

Protesters march down Ben Franklin Parkway to City Hall

The protesters say they’re not giving up. But Nutter remains committed to closing the libraries on December 31st. In the meantime, no private funders have stepped up to rescue the 11 libraries, which each cost about $575,000 to operate.