Philadelphia’s restrictions on large public events and mass rallies will not stop thousands of people saying they will march in an unapproved version of the Mummers Parade on New Year’s Day being organized via Facebook.
More than 2,700 people have responded to a list of events on Facebook indicating that they will participate in what is described as a “peaceful Mummers / New Year’s protest against Mayor Kenney.” Another 8,300 Facebook users responded with “interest” in attending the event.
Between 10,000 and 15,000 momers take part in the normal New Year’s Eve parade. It seems that the Facebook list is not restricted to those who are members or are associated with momers clubs.
The protest is scheduled to take place on South Second Street, in the Pennsport section of South Philly, where there are many mummers club houses and where the unofficial Two Street parade usually takes place on New Year’s Day, after of the march on South Broad Street.
All of this is an indication that 2021 will end the same way it started, with tension between Mayor Jim Kenney and some momers. It started with the mayor calling Froggy Carr members after at least two of his momers were seen on the black face during the 2021 parade. Kenney called the incident “unpleasant,” disqualifying the club from competition. of the parade and threatened to completely withdraw support from the city for the Mummers parade.
Froggy Carr leaders condemned the racist display and there were weeks of meetings between moms leaders and city officials.
“Mayor Jim Kenney has tried for years (like any mayor of Philly in the past) to cancel the Philadelphia Mummers Parade, a tradition that precedes the birth of our nation,” protest parade organizers wrote in Facebook. The first parade sanctioned by the city took place in 1901, but the custom of the mummy dates back to some of the first settlers in the region.
“What (Kenney) CANNOT do is cancel the right of our first amendment to protest peacefully for their erroneous taxes and restrictions on our freedoms and liberties,” the protest organizers wrote.
City officials have no plans to stop the second-street protest. That same year, Kenney encouraged attendees to follow public safety and health guidelines, such as wearing masks.
“It’s important to remember that most momers and their organized groups made it clear that they weren’t going to leave this year due to health issues, so the major divisions of the parade being organized made that decision at first.” , said the mayor. “People who decided they wanted to leave or protest, we will try to keep them as safe as possible.”
City officials have canceled all major public meetings and events in Philadelphia until February 2021 in order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. These restrictions were imposed in July and have led to other important events in Philadelphia, such as Thanksgiving and the Broad Street Run.
Then, last month, several momers ’clubs indicated they would still participate in smaller, less organized events on Jan. 1, despite the ban. Some groups hinted at going beyond their own neighborhoods and marching on Broad Street on New Year’s Day.
Not all momers are on board with the protest. The Philadelphia String Band Association issued a statement Tuesday in support of the cancellation of the 2021 parade to keep participants and spectators safe from COVID-19.
“While we are discouraged by these events, the String Band Association does not believe it is prudent for its members and tens of thousands of spectators to participate in a parade or any meeting it leads or on the day of any year in the city of Philadelphia during this pandemic, “the organization said in a statement.
Proponents of the protest say the event is an exercise in freedom of expression, which compares it to social justice, the matter of black lives and the political demonstrations that have taken place this year.
“As experienced during the summer with protests for racial justice and demonstrations around the elections, the city is ready to manage crowds and groups while maintaining public safety,” a city spokesman told PhillyVoice.
“This is consistent with the way mass rallies, demonstrations, and marches in Philadelphia have been handled before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Philadelphia Police Department is prepared to enforce existing Philadelphia laws when endangers public safety “.
The city’s Special Events Office has not accepted, reviewed or approved submissions of permits to produce festivals, parades, concerts, carnivals, fairs and flea markets held in public spaces. There has been no timetable in place to lift the moratorium, pending progress with COVID-19 beyond February.
City policy does not include private outdoor events with less than 50 guests, recreational sports with less than 25 participants, and events on private properties, such as venues.
Michael Tanenbaum, PhillyVoice staff writer, contributed to this story.