Rain dampens DNC protests, but passions remain high [photos]

Protesters burned a flag and tussled with police along the perimeter fence at the Wells Fargo Center under a steady rain on Thursday, the final day of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.

A flag burning scheduled for 6 p.m. lasted a only a few seconds due to the wet conditions, but a young man from Trenton, New Jersey, was not shy in speaking his mind about it.

Larry Payton, his face and arms spotted with burns he said were caused by an accident at a bonfire, grabbed hold of another protester’s flag and refused to let go. A tug-of-war ensued that ended when the flag’s owners convinced Payton it would not be burned.

Later in the evening, a group of protesters began to congregate near the entrance to AT&T Station, where several protesters were arrested or detained during the week. This group called for a citizen’s arrest of Hillary Clinton as she made her acceptance speech Thursday evening.

According to a statement released by the DNC Action Committee: “We will march into the gates of the Wells Fargo Center during her speech. Our intent is to nonviolently present Hillary Rodham Clinton with a citizen’s arrest.”

Eventually the group dispersed and relocated further south at the fence running along Pattison Avenue, where a small shoving match between police and demonstrators ended with three protesters sitting along the police line.

When the crowd thinned, all three at once leapt up and attempted a run at the security perimeter. They were quickly apprehended, placed in custody and led through a crowd of agitated protesters to be placed into police vehicles and taken away.

Following the brief excitement, protesters were joined by dozens of delegates who supported Bernie Sanders and all retreated back to FDR Park.