President Donald Trump caught a plane to Philly on Tuesday afternoon to pitch his economic policies to electrical contractors at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
Inside, the commander-in-chief received a warm welcome.
Outside? Not so much.
Trump’s visit brought out about 100 protestors into the street — several of whom brought signs featuring Gritty, who is apparently the new face of the local Trump resistance. Throughout the president’s speech before the National Electrical Contractors Association, demonstrators marched bearing the Flyers mascot’s visage up and down Broad Street and around City Hall, attracting heavy police presence and snarling traffic.
Billy Penn was there on the scene:
We weren’t exactly on the hunt for Gritty signs, either.
But it didn’t take long to find one.
And another.
Meanwhile, dozens of Philly police corralled protestors in order to secure the Convention Center.
The main banner leading the protest? Surprise: It Gritty.
There were also some backhanded musical selections.
Plus some DIY tunes.
You could also hear…more Gritty. (The Flyers could not be immediately reached for comment on this new protest phenomenon.)
Looping around City Hall between South Broad and Market, protestors blocked traffic and weaved between cars.
41-33.
Anti-development chants = a Philly protest standard.
Ah yes, the handmaids are back.
As protestors inched closer to the Convention Center, Philly police upped their presence.
Did we mention Gritty?
After making their way back to Broad and Arch, protest organizers called for everyone to lie down in the intersection.
They backed up a lot of traffic, including a handful of SEPTA buses.
As Trump’s speech began around 2:30 p.m., protestors reached the Broad Street entrance of the Convention Center, near Cherry Street.
And then! More Gritty.
One person’s protest is another person’s business opportunity. (Everybody’s gotta eat.)
