Disorder outside

Disorder erupts on Philly streets outside DNC

By Darren Samuelsohn and Katie Glueck

Protests outside of the Democratic National Convention turned chaotic and veered into violence Tuesday night in Philadelphia, with at least one fistfight breaking out.

A Black Lives Matter protest of several hundred people — including police officers, journalists and the protesters themselves — had been marching for more than two hours when, just a few miles outside the arena where the convention is taking place, they joined up with another large group of protesters, including supporters of Bernie Sanders and pro-Palestinian marchers. The expanded group drew onlookers and resulted in a combustible dynamic that triggered at least one fist fight, though it was unclear who threw the punches.

The scene also featured a string of tense standoffs between protesters and their critics, with law enforcement monitoring carefully and two television reporters from One America News facing harassment from protesters.

Vincent McGrath, a 56-year-old retiree and Hillary Clinton supporter, was sitting on top of a Camaro convertible holding "Blue Lives Matter" and Clinton signs. Several protesters went right up to him, middle fingers extended, and hurled insults.

"Get a job," McGrath responded.

Several dozen police officers, on bikes and in cars with flashing lights, had stopped and watched the interaction closely. As the protesters marched on, many officers thanked McGrath effusively.

A Philadelphia police officer on the scene, and one of the protesters' legal advisers, both said at least four arrests had been made by nearly 10:30 PM Tuesday though the Philadelphia Police Public Affairs Office said they were waiting to confirm the number and would release that information when they had it.

But the situation continued to be tense: At another point, around half-a-dozen police officers on motorcycles were overwhelmed by shouting protesters, though that situation stayed non-violent.

"Police are the 99 percent!" someone yelled.

"F*** the police," a man yelled repeatedly. "Intimidation."

As the protester got in the police officer's face and told him to "go to hell," the cop stared straight ahead and didn't engage.

"Get the f*** out of here!" another woman yelled at police officers repeatedly. "Get your sorry a** out of here."

The local NBC affiliate later reported one officer was hospitalized for heat exhaustion.

At another point, a small group of protesters chanted "F*** Hillary Clinton," while others offered, "the people, united, will never be defeated!"

A man standing with his son on a median, wearing civilian clothes, said "Here come the Palestinians" as protesters engulfed them.

As the march neared Talk of the Town, a cheesesteak joint, the dynamic deescalated, though people continued to intermittently scream at one another.

"Keep marching," urged one protester with a bullhorn. "Give the police some room."

The protesters marched to the security fence surrounding the convention site, where a night before, dozens had been arrested. On Tuesday night, protesters burned paper and the Israeli flag, and also appeared to rough up a reporter and photographer for One America news, demanding that they turn off their camera, grabbing them and seeking to block their shot.

As the night wore on, protesters gathered around the security perimeter largely calmed down, even lighting candles. But there was another group of protesters who stationed themselves at another gate outside the security perimeter, who said they were hoping to yell at delegates, and a protester presence remained after the DNC's programming wrapped up.