"We the people" in Philadelphia attracts few supporters but hundreds of counterparts

PHILADELPHIA – A conservative gathering in the heart of the Philadelphia tourist area Saturday attracted about 30 people – and about 10 times more counter-partners – but remained largely non-violent despite fears of a clash between the two parties.

The police arrested four people, mainly counter-testers for disorderly conduct and lack of dispersal. One person was arrested after allegedly hitting a man and leaving the scene.

The protesters were separated from the "We People's Rally" by a four-lane street, Jersey fences and hundreds of Philadelphia police officers, many of whom wore plastic handcuffs.

The demonstration was announced as a gathering of "patriots" and others who were "good police, pro-ICE, pro-law and order, pro-life, pro-American values, pro gun and illegal anti-immigration "an event. But the turnout was low, which led some of the counter-candidates to question whether the rally was a joke.

"I wonder if they are not just kissing us, that they have organized an event for other people to ruin their day," recalls Michael Bartolone, 45, who is not alone. is driving to New York to join the protesters. "Was all this a trick on their part or were they scared?"

The low turnout also disappointed rally fans like Ted Chmielnicki, a native of North Carolina. He wondered if the rumor of social media alluding to violence had hijacked some.

"We heard a lot of rhetoric coming here and saying we were going in here and taking control of the city, destroying the place and being violent, etc.," he said. "The only message we are trying to convey is unity. If we can not unite under the Constitution and the flag, we are already lost. "

The event was promoted online by the conservative Sports Beer and Politics group. The rally called "All Patriots, Militia, 3%, Constitutionally Loving Americans", though it should also attract neo-Nazis and groups similar to those of such gatherings in the past.

While the rally participants delivered speeches – and protesters tried to drown them with songs – the tourists headed for Liberty Bell or Independence Hall, where the US Constitution was signed. The organizers of the rally said that the respect of this founding document was the reason behind the event.

"They call us Nazis. But I ask you: which camp is more like a rally in Nuremberg? Asked Bill Helder, 55, of Washington's Crossing, Pennsylvania, pointing out the abundance of flags, songs and drums among the counter-promoters. "All I've heard here is, 'God bless the Constitution. Let's go, "and the other side wants to tear our heads off.

The organizer expected about 200 people to gather in the park, next to the Independence Visitor Center, a popular gathering place. A small fraction actually attended. The promoter's Facebook page emphasized that it "does not approve of the use of violence by a party to the event. This event will allow people to make their voices heard. Any violence, racism or hate speech on the part of a group or individual is extremely forbidden. "

"I only saw one guy being hit so far today," said Gregg Housh, a 41-year-old Boston resident who has faced at least 30 similar events in the past two years. . "That's because one of the guys on the far right came out of his pen and went around the other side, he walked right in the middle and started screaming Trump stuff on them."