On Tuesday, Philadelphia played host to the first presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.
While the Democratic and Republican candidates squared off at the National Constitution Center, demonstrators — a mix of Philly Palestine Coalition supporters, animal rights advocates, city workers and otherwise — gathered en masse for the occasion, and watch parties set up camp to watch the debate unfold in real-time.
![09 10 2024 k paynter debate night scene-1 protesters in shark costumes](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/09-10-2024-k-paynter-debate-night-scene-1-1700x825.jpg)
![09 10 2024 k paynter debate night scene-11 Inflatable Donald Trump at the protest](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/09-10-2024-k-paynter-debate-night-scene-11-1700x825.jpg)
![debate-protest-e-lee-2024-09-10-02 Pro-Palestinian protesters](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/debate-protest-e-lee-2024-09-10-02-1700x825.jpg)
![09 10 2024 k paynter debate night scene-5 A protester dressed up as a rat](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/09-10-2024-k-paynter-debate-night-scene-5-1700x825.jpg)
![09 10 2024 k paynter debate night scene-8 Andy Metzger holds up a sign in support of Kamala Harris](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/09-10-2024-k-paynter-debate-night-scene-8-1700x825.jpg)
![debate-protest-e-lee-2024-09-10-01 A protester holding a large pro-Palestine flag](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/debate-protest-e-lee-2024-09-10-01-1700x825.jpg)
![09 10 2024 k paynter debate night scene-14 Workers rally ahead of the debate](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/09-10-2024-k-paynter-debate-night-scene-14-1700x825.jpg)
![Alix Paul and Christina Soll](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/09-10-2024-k-paynter-debate-night-scene-6-1024x683.jpg)
![Lori Ney with her dog at the rally](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/09-10-2024-k-paynter-debate-night-scene-4-1024x683.jpg)
![09 10 2024 k paynter debate night scene-3 Lori Ney with her dog at the rally](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/09-10-2024-k-paynter-debate-night-scene-3-1700x825.jpg)
![09 10 2024 k paynter debate night scene-9 Protesters](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/09-10-2024-k-paynter-debate-night-scene-9-1700x825.jpg)
![debate-protest-e-lee-2024-09-10-03 Pro-Palestinian protesters](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/debate-protest-e-lee-2024-09-10-03-1700x825.jpg)
![debate-protest-e-lee-2024-09-10-04 Pro-Palestinian protesters](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/debate-protest-e-lee-2024-09-10-04-1700x825.jpg)
![debate-protest-e-lee-2024-09-10-05 Protesters march in the street](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/debate-protest-e-lee-2024-09-10-05-1700x825.jpg)
![debate-night-e-lee-2024-09-10-2 The crowd at McGillin’s Olde Ale House watches the Presidential debate.](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/debate-night-e-lee-2024-09-10-2-1700x825.jpg)
![09 10 2024 k paynter republican watch party-3 Philadelphia Young Republicans watched the presidential debate at the Kimpton Hotel on Sept. 10, 2024.](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/09-10-2024-k-paynter-republican-watch-party-3-1700x825.jpg)
![McGillins-philly-debate-2024-09-10-4 Greg Coleman poses for a portrait](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/McGillins-philly-debate-2024-09-10-4-1700x825.jpg)
![McGillins-philly-debate-2024-09-10-5 Lindsey McAnany and Kathryn Moriarity watch the presidential debate](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/McGillins-philly-debate-2024-09-10-5-1700x825.jpg)
![09 10 2024 k paynter republican watch party-1 Antoine Guess thought Donald Trump gave a strong debate performance against Kamala Harris in Philadelphia on Sept. 10, 2024.](https://whyy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/09-10-2024-k-paynter-republican-watch-party-1-1700x825.jpg)
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