Protests against police violence continue over weekend in Philadelphia

A group of about 200 protesting police brutality and recent police-involved shootings in Louisiana and Minnesota made their way Saturday through parts of North Philadelphia.

The peaceful protest began at Cambria and Mascher streets and lasted about six hours. For about an hour and a half, the group stopped in front of the 24th and 25th district Philadelphia police headquarters, where it was met with dozens of police officers standing guard.

A smaller group continued south to Allegheny Avenue, followed by a police helicopter, a bike patrol unit, and a police cruiser.

On Allegheny Avenue, four men who identified themselves as British tourists emerged at the front. They wore white Guy Fawkes masks and bandanas to cover their faces. One of them stated that the goal of their trip is to participate in protests around the country.

One of the men was breifly detained by officers after he used a powerful flashlight to point at the helicopter overhead. Because no illegal laser-pointers were used, he was sent away with a citation for disorderly conduct, said Inspector Michael McCarrick at the district headquarters.

The remaining group quickly disavowed the behavior of these four and continued peacefully to the starting point of the march.