Protesters block traffic in Center City

Police arrested four protesters Wednesday as a few hundred marchers took their message of Black Lives Matter to the streets to denounce Donald Trump’s election as president.

Continuing a series of protests in the city ever since Election Day, the mostly peaceful protesters also called for creating a strong third party.

Several protesters said they were fed up with not just Trump, but both major parties. Many said officeholders don’t take their demands seriously. Some changes they would like to see include ending stop and frisk policies; overhauling the bail system; and providing public defenders with additional funding.

“The fact that I’m a black woman in Philadelphia, and I’m constantly affected by racism, sexism, the intersection,” said Camy Olido. “So I’m out here to support the movement.”

“I think we’re putting pressure on them. Taking to the street every day,” she said. “They’re going to see it.”

The march became most intense at Rittenhouse Square, where protesters said people at the swanky restaurants and boutique shops rarely think about the concerns of vulnerable African-Americans.

About 200 protesters  were near Rittenhouse Square at 6:15 p.m.

Things getting testy as police block protester access to Walnut St. by Rittenhouse Sq. pic.twitter.com/1XC4USLQAx

— Bobby Allyn (@BobbyAllyn) November 16, 2016

Earlier the group staged a protest at the Philadelphia Police headquarters at Seventh and Race streets before marching into the streets and heading toward City Hall and then Rittenhouse Square. 

This guy, yelling behind police, heckles protesters. Asked, “Did you even vote?” Was eventually walked away by cops. pic.twitter.com/CQpZWQswKb

— Bobby Allyn (@BobbyAllyn) November 16, 2016

At the police building rally, the group blasted Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney over the city’s stop-and-frisk policy. 

The group speaking on the Race Street side of the police building said when Kenney was running for mayor he vowed to end stop-and-frisk. Once he got into power, they say, he changed his mind and now only wants modifications. 

Another speaker criticized the police union for endorsing Trump during the campaign.