Philadelphia welcomes groups looking to express their right to free speech peacefully. All groups were asked to submit a request for a permit.
All demonstration permit applications were submitted through the Office of Special Events and reviewed by an internal working group to ensure safety and accessibility for those participating in the demonstrations and the public at large.
The City expects on average 35,000-50,000 protesters each day across the city. While these demonstrations may cause some road closures, we expect they will be temporary. Be sure to check @PhiladelphiaGov on Twitter or our Convention website for updates from Saturday, July 23, to Thursday, July 28.
Below is a map of the protest zone sites at FDR Park as well as a list of all permits that were requested, including permits approved, denied, or withdrawn.
This page was last updated at 12:38 p.m. on July 22, 2016. For further information, contact the Mayor’s Press office at 215-686-6210.
Approved
| Event Date(s) | Sponsoring Organization | Event Name | Event Description | Estimated of Participants | Location (Address) | Start (Includes Set-up) | End (Includes Tear-down) | Status |
| 07/23, 07/25-07/28/16 | Ammi Ministry | Ammi Ministry Outreach | Literature and prayer tables | 2-3 (Each Location) | Arch Street (NS) from Broad to 12th; Market Street (NS) from Broad to 11th (Sidewalks) | 10:00 a.m. | 4:00 p.m. | Approved (Permit Issued) |
| 7/24/2016 | African National Women’s Organization | #ArrestDHS Protest March | Protest against DHS taking black children through fraudulent claims | 50 | Start at 6th & Market Streets; WB on Market Street to Juniper Street; Juniper Street to JFK Blvd.; WB on JFK Blvd. to 16th Street; NB on 16th Street to Arch Street; End at 1515 Arch Street (OPB) | 10:00 a.m. | 2:00 p.m. | Approved (Permit Issued) |
| 7/24/2016 | Food & Water Watch | March for Clean Energy Revolution | One mile march for clean energy technology and practices | 5,000 | Market Street from City Hall to Independence Mall | 10:00 a.m. | 2:30 p.m. | Approved (Permit Issued) |
| 7/24/2016 | N/A | March for Bernie | Rally with various speakers in support of candidate Bernie Sanders | 3,000 | Thomas Paine Plaza | 11:00 a.m. | 4:00 p.m. | Approved (Permit Issued) |
| 07/24-07/28/16 | N/A | March for Bernie at DNC | Rally @ FDR Park in support of candidate Bernie Sanders | 30,000 | FDR Park (Zones 1, 3 & 4) | 8:00 a.m. | N/A | Approved (Permit Issued) |
| 7/24-7/28/16 | Jill Stein for President | Power Rally for Jill Stein for President | Rally featuring music and speakers and 90’x50′ tent | 300 | FDR Park (Zone 2 – All Days); FDR Park (Zone 5 – 7/25) | 8:00 a.m. | 10:00 p.m. | Approved (Permit Issued) |
| 7/25/2016 | Andrea Romig | Mock Trial for Hillary Clinton | Dramatic performance showing the trial of Hillary Clinton | 100 | FDR Park (Zone 6) | 8:00 a.m. | 5:00 p.m. | Approved (Permit Issued) |
| 7/25/2016 | Equality Coalition for Bernie Sanders | Equality Coalition’s March on the DNC 2016 | Direct action to promote the need for improvements in the lives of citizens | 250 | City Hall – South Apron | 9:00 a.m. | N/A | Approved (Permit Issued) |
| 7/25/2016 | Laurie Cestnick | Bernie Rally | Rally w/ open mic and speakers in support of Bernie Sanders | 5,000 | Marconi Plaza (West Side) | 10:00 a.m. | 8:00 p.m. | Approved (Permit Issued) |
| 7/25/2016 | “Bernie Sanders Supporters” | Bernie Sanders Rally/March | Rally in support of candidate Bernie Sanders | 5,000-15,000 | Start 1600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway (NS); EB on Arch Street to 15th Street; 15th Street to S. Penn Square; S. Penn Square to Broad Street; SB on Broad Street to Pattison Avenue | 11:00 a.m. | N/A | Approved (Permit Issued) |
| 7/25/2016 | Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign | March for Our Lives | March to end homelessness in America | 500 | Start @ City Hall South Apron; March SB on Broad Street to FDR Park | 2:00 p.m. | N/A | Approved (Permit Issued) |
| 7/25/2016 | Phila. Federation of Teachers (PFT Local 3) | PFT Contract Demonstration | PFT members and national allies to protest more than 1,000 days without a contract | 1,000 | Marconi Plaza (East Side) | 3:45 p.m. | 8:00 p.m. | Approved (Permit Issued) |
| 7/25/2016 | N/A | Candelight Vigil to Commemorate the Death of Democracy | Candelight vigil featuring speakers and quiet reflection | 8,000 | FDR Park (Zone 6) | 5:00 p.m. | N/A | Approved (Permit Issued) |
| 7/25-7/28/16 | N/A | Interfaith Prayer Circle for Peace, Unity and Justice | Daily prayer for world peace and unity | 50-400 | Thomas Paine Plaza | 8:15 a.m. | N/A | Approved (Permit Issued) |
| 7/26/2016 | Americans for Responsible Solutions PAC / CeaseFirePA | Americans for Responsible Solutions PAC / CeaseFirePA Rally | Rally in support of taking a stand against gun violence | 100-200 | Logan Square | 9:30 a.m. | 11:30 a.m. | Approved (Permit Issued) |
| 7/26/2016 | N/A | March for Bernie | Rally with various speakers in support of candidate Bernie Sanders | 3,000 | Thomas Paine Plaza | 10:00 a.m. | N/A | Approved (Permit Issued) |
| 7/26/2016 | Philly REAL Justice | Black DNC Resistance Against Police Terrorism and State Repression | Rally | 300-500 | 1300 Diamond Street | 1:30 p.m. | 3:15 p.m. | Approved (Permit Issued) |
| 7/26/2016 | Philly REAL Justice | Black DNC Resistance March | N/A | 300-500 | Start @ Broad & Diamond Streets; SB on Broad Street to City Hall – South Apron | N/A | N/A | Approved (Permit Issued) |
| 7/26/2016 | International Action Center | “Shut Down the DNC” Rally | Rally | 2,000 | City Hall – South Apron | 3:00 p.m. | 5:30 p.m. | Approved (Permit Issued) |
| 7/26/2016 | International Action Center | “Shut Down the DNC” March | March | 2,000 | Start @ City Hall; March SB on Broad Street to Pattison Avenue | N/A | N/A | Approved (Permit Issued) |
| 07/26-07/27/2016 | Westboro Baptist Church | Religious Demonstration | Peaceful religious demonstration featuring signs, banners, placards, flags and music | 10 | FDR Park (Zone 6) | N/A | N/A | Approved (Permit Issued) |
| 07/26-07/28/2016 | Trump for PA | Trump for PA | Rally in support of Donald Trump for President | 50-100 | Marconi Plaza (East Side) | 8:00 a.m. | N/A | Approved (Permit Issued) |
| 07/26-07/28/2016 | Andrew Geliebter | Conscious Convergence | First Amendment workshops, discussions and temporary art installation | 250 | Marconi Plaza (West Side) | 9:00 a.m. | 8:00 p.m. | Approved (Permit Issued) |
| 07/27-07/28/2016 | Black Men for Bernie | We the People Restoration Rally | Rally to address economic inequality, human rights, poverty, criminal justice reform and lack of ownership | 2,000 | Thomas Paine Plaza | 9:00 a.m. | 7:30 p.m. | Approved (Permit Issued) |
| 07/27-07/28/2016 | OCCUPY DNC | Rally, March and Bernie in the Park | Rally and march with speakers and food | 8,000 | FDR Park (Zones 5 & 6) | N/A | N/A | Approved (Permit Issued) |
| 7/29/2016 | The Markham Group | Network: Nuns on the Bus | Closing rally celebrating the conclusion of the “Nuns on a Bus” Tour | 200 | Fairmount Park (33rd Street & Reservoir Drive) | 7:00 a.m. | 2:00 p.m. | Approved (Permit Issued) |
| 7/29/2016 | Black Men for Bernie | The Day After | Public conversation based on the results of the DNC | 2,000 | Thomas Paine Plaza | 9:00 a.m. | 6:30 p.m. | Approved (Permit Issued) |
| 7/25-7/28/2016 | Andrew Geliebter | Conscious Convergence | First Amendment workshops, discussions and temporary art installation | 250 | Rittenhouse Square | 9:00 a.m. | 8:00 p.m. | Approved (Permit Issued) |
Denied
| Event Date(s) | Sponsoring Organization | Event Name | Event Description | Estimated Number of Participants | Location | Start (Includes Set-up) | End (Includes Tear-down) | Status | Reason for Denial |
| 7/24/2016 | Bernie 2016, Inc. | Bernie 2016 Future to Believe in Rally | Rally in support of the 2016 Bernie campaign | 15,000-40,000 | FDR Park (Ashburn Field) | 6:00 a.m. (07/23) | 11:59 p.m. | Denied | The City property requested (Ashburn Field) is a non-public forum that has not been opened for expressive activity to the general public. Specifically, the property sought to be used for the demonstration is subject to a multi-party agreement that does not permit usage for non-recreational purposes. |
| 7/25/2016 | Equality Coalition for Bernie Sanders | March on the DNC 2016 | Protest march based on unfair treatment of candidates by the DNC | 200 | Start at City Hall; March southbound on Broad Street to Stadium Complex Area | 8:00 a.m. | 8:00 p.m. | Denied | The proposed demonstration conflicted with a previously scheduled event for the same location (City Hall) on the same date and time. Repeated attempts to contact the applicant prior to disapproval were unsuccessful. |
| 7/25-7/28/2016 | Global Zero | Race to Zero | Demonstration involving inflatable rocket to call for an end to nuclear weapons | 200 | FDR Park / Marconi Plaza | TBD | TBD | Denied | The application for demonstration was not fully completed and did not specify a date or start/end time. Repeated attempts to contact the applicant prior to disapproval were unsuccessful. |
| 7/25-7/28/2016 | Andrew Geliebter | Conscious Convergence | First Amendment workshops, discussions and temporary art installation | 250 | Chew Playground (18th & Washington) | 9:00 a.m. | 8:00 p.m. | Denied | The property sought to be used (Chew Playground) is in use during the dates and times requested as a day camp and active swimming pool and the fields are in use for regularly scheduled/permitted recreational activities. |
Withdrawn
| Event Date(s) | Sponsoring Organization | Event Name | Event Description | Estimated Number of Participants | Location | Start (Includes Set-up) | End (Includes Tear-down) |
| 7/24/2016 | Unitarian Society of Germantown | Public Gathering of Unitarian Universalists to Support BLM | Faith based demonstration in support of the BLM movement | 500-1,000 | INHP (6th & Market Streets) | 2:00 p.m. | 6:00 p.m. |
| 7/25/2016 | LigoranoResse | The American Dream Project | Political rally featuring an ice sculpture with political messaging | 100-200 | City Hall Courtyard/Thomas Paine Plaza | 11:00 a.m. | 11:00 p.m. |
| 7/25-7/27/2016 | Foreclosure Registers, Inc. | Democratic National Convention | Rally to advocate for homeowners who are in foreclosure | 5 | Center City, Wells Fargo Center, FDR Park, INHP | 7:00 a.m. | 6:00 p.m. |
| 7/25-7/28/2016 | Andrew Geliebter | Conscious Convergence | First Amendment workshops, discussions and temporary art installation | 250 | Washington Square | 9:00 a.m. | 8:00 p.m. |
| 7/26/2016 | International Action Center | “Shut Down the DNC” Rally | Rally | 2,000 | Dilworth Plaza & City Hall South Apron | 3:00 p.m. | 5:30 p.m. |
| 7/26/2016 | N/A | Support Rally for Candidate Bernie Sanders | Peaceful rally in support of Bernie Sanders | 500-600 | Marconi Plaza (West Side) | 9:00 a.m. | 3:00 p.m. |