Hundreds gathered in Philadelphia on Monday (June 1) for a peaceful protest which took over the Vine Street Expressway. Police warned that protesters would be arrested and cited for breaking the 6 pm curfew, and things became chaotic when officers fired non-lethal bullets and tear gas as traffic was halted on I-676 and the Ben Franklin Bridge.
Video shows protesters being trapped with nowhere to run as officers deployed tear gas as they tried to scramble up a steep embankment. Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw addressed the situation, and she claims that some protesters became violent with officers by throwing rocks at them and rocking a police cruiser.
Outlaw stated, "We have repeatedly assured our great communities that we will protect, preserve, and uphold every person’s constitutional right to protest. However, we can not tolerate acts of violence and other criminal activity. Today’s deployment of tear gas was a means to safely diffuse a volatile and dangerous situation, and restore order, when it became increasingly clear that other measures were ineffective in accomplishing that necessary objective. We will continue to evaluate the propriety of all applications of force, and make determinations as the circumstances of each unique situation dictate."
Mayor Jim Kenney also issued a statement on the situation, "The use of tear gas during a demonstration is something that I never wanted to witness during my time as mayor. I’m deeply saddened that peaceful protests for such an important cause are being diminished by actions that threaten public safety.
"I want to assure the public that this was not a decision that anyone took lightly. It was made because we simply cannot condone behaviors that endanger the lives of others, like traversing an open highway. The officers on site were concerned about the safety of protestors as well as those who may be driving on the highway.
"After issuing several warnings, they made the decision to deploy tear gas to encourage the crowd to disperse. While I regret that it came to that, and I am disturbed by the footage that I’ve seen, I support decisions made by the Department to resolve today’s activity.
"I also support activity by people like Deputy Commissioner Melvin Singleton, who was able to peacefully disperse a crowd in Center City by kneeling with them, activity that was mirrored by officers across the City, including outside the Police Administration building.
"We will only be able to move forward if we are united together, and we must keep each other safe while supporting each other through our grief.
"I urge Philadelphians to continue peaceful protesting in ways that do not put yourselves, your fellow Philadelphians, or law enforcement officers in danger."
