Adding to the slew of massive protests happening since the inauguration of President Donald Trump, thousands of protesters gathered outside of the Loews Hotel in Philadelphia on Thursday afternoon, where President Trump was scheduled to speak to the GOP Congressional Retreat. Trump and other Republican congress members such as Vice President Mike Pence and Speaker Paul Ryan gathered in Philadelphia for the annual Republican Retreat, but they did not gather without the people of Philadelphia letting those inside know they were unwelcome in the City of Brotherly Love.
Scenes from the protest in Center City as @POTUS visits Philadelphia for GOP Congressional Retreat. Photos courtesy of Update's @mward2210 pic.twitter.com/NJbtII9JtN
— Temple Update (@TempleUpdate) January 26, 2017
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered at Rittenhouse Square around 4:00pm to for a rally, with the march began shortly after. Protestors then made their way from the Square to 13th and Market outside of the Loews Hotel. The entrance to the hotel was barricaded by garbage trucks and countless police officers, but protestors only made more noise.
After an hour of demonstrations aimed at the politicians, the group went back into the streets, marching around City Hall and then down South Broad, Locust, and Chestnut streets. While marching through the streets filled with traffic, cars honked and high-fived marchers in solidarity.
An off-duty SEPTA bus driver even opened the door of his bus to play music and join the marchers.
The group of demonstrators marched down South Broad to try to get closer to the hotel, the police officers set up multiple barricades to make sure everyone stayed their distance.
Mayor Jim Kenney tweeted late Thursday his thanks to those who kept both protestors and those within the retreat safe today.
Incredibly proud to be a Philadelphian tonight & grateful for the hard work of our first responders & our @PhiladelphiaGov public servants.
— Jim Kenney (@PhillyMayor) January 27, 2017
Today our @PhillyPolice tirelessly kept safe our visitors, residents & everyone who made their voice heard. Thank you for your service.
— Jim Kenney (@PhillyMayor) January 27, 2017
No word yet whether any arrests were made during Thursday’s demonstration.
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