Philadelphians hold vigil, march for protester murdered in Charlottesville [photos]
People gathered at Philadelphia City Hall Saturday evening in solidarity with counterprotestors at the white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia earlier today.
The vigil was organized by the Philadelphia Socialist Alternative and Philly Socialists. Early in the vigil, about 150 people took part as speeches were being made.
Photographer Bastiaan Slabbers was there to catch the action.
100-150 gather at #Philly City Hall for peaceful vigil. No word yet on taking to streets for march. #charlottsville cc: @NewsWorksWHYY pic.twitter.com/6CE85ZZtBT
— Bastiaan Slabbers (@BasSlabbers) August 12, 2017
Protesters then marched through Center City while chanting “No Trump, no KKK, no racist USA.”
“No Trump, no KKK, no racist USA” a protestors now march Center City streets. No PPD nearby #charlottsville pic.twitter.com/aXSeareboU
— Bastiaan Slabbers (@BasSlabbers) August 13, 2017
Marching through Center City the group of protesters entered the Vine Street Expressway ramp, with police escort.
Protestors take off ramp of the Vine Express away. There is now police escort. pic.twitter.com/KNrtgcbZ6S
— Bastiaan Slabbers (@BasSlabbers) August 13, 2017
According to reports from the scene, one police car followed the crowd — only about 25 people at that point. The march then shut down the Vine Street Expressway briefly.
Anti-Trump protest march briefly blocked Vine Expressway after vigil for #Charlottesville at City Hall. (photos for @NewsWorksWHYY) pic.twitter.com/u3GFegvMWU
— Bastiaan Slabbers (@BasSlabbers) August 13, 2017
There have been no arrests reported as of yet.
The Philadelphia Mayor’s Office has not yet released an official statement, but Mayor Jim Kenney tweeted his sentiments earlier this evening.
I denounce white supremacist rallies & violence in Virginia. This is not what America is supposed to be. We’re about love & unity, not hate.
— Jim Kenney (@PhillyMayor) August 12, 2017
The Associated Press reports three deaths are linked to the Charlottesville rally — a protester killed when a car plowed into a crowd of people peacefully protesting the rally, and the pilot and a passenger of a Virginia State Police helicopter that crashed nearby.
State Police linked the crash to the rally, though officials did not elaborate on how the crash was connected.
The chaos boiled over at what is believed to be the largest group of white nationalists to come together in a decade: the governor declared a state of emergency, police dressed in riot gear ordered people to disperse, and helicopters circled overhead.
The group had gathered to protest plans to remove a statue of the Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, and tothers arrived to counter-protest the racism.
Here’s what happened earlier. You can view the photos from Charlottesville here.
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