Philadelphia Prepping For DNC Protests
By Cherri Gregg
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The nation's eyes will be on Philadelphia during the Democratic National Convention in July.
Protesters are already making plans to set up shop, and the city is already giving out permits.
The city of Philadelphia has already received nine requests for demonstration permits during the Democratic National Convention. So far, one has been approved and seven are still pending.
A lone permit has been denied, which sparked a protest near City Hall on Tuesday.
"They're trying to tell us that the city is booked," says Cheri Honkala of the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign. The group is planning the "March for Our Lives" to protest the DNC.
Honkala says she's working with a coalition of groups that will march from City Hall down South Broad Street on July 25, beginning at 3 p.m. with a goal of raising awareness about homelessness, lack of single payer health insurance, and a host of issues impacting the poor.
"The last thing that we have is our voice and they're not going to take that away from us," says Honkala, "we should not be denied the right to speak."
Mayor Kenney's press secretary Lauren Hill wrote in an email that the city denied Honkala's permit because it would require the city to shut down Broad Street during rush hour. They encouraged Honkala to re-apply.
Mass protests are expected during the convention and Hill wrote: "Demonstrations are an important part of every convention, and the city is trying to be as accommodating as possible to demonstrators."
She says the city is working to bring in water and other accommodations for demonstrators and will have a special area designated for protest near the Wells Fargo Center.
Honkala says she will not reapply and is considering a lawsuit. Either way, her group will be there front and center during the DNC.
"Permit or no permit, we're marching 3 o'clock right here," she says.
