Protests continued outside 15th police district
MAYFAIR (WPVI) -- Demonstrators made their way to the 15th police district headquarters in the Mayfair section of Philadelphia early Sunday morning where two protesters were taken into custody for assaulting a police officer.
Action News' cameras were there as a line of officers arrayed in front of the building as protesters shouted at them from across the street around 1 a.m.
The protests began around 12 p.m. Saturday near the Pennsylvania Convention at 12th and Arch streets where the International Association of Chiefs of Police meeting is taking place this weekend.
Soon thereafter, protesters were permitted to take over the intersection.
One protester speaking with a microphone focused his remarks on African American officers, lambasting them for being part of what protesters claim is a corrupt system of policing.
"You are the reason some of us cannot sleep at night. Me personally cannot sleep at night. You are the reason that me as a black man cannot respect you. You must understand this, right? If not, trust me, I just told you," the protester said.
Protesters then began moving. At 14th Street and JFK Boulevard, a skirmish ensued between officers and demonstrators.
Two officers and one protester reportedly received minor injuries.
Four protesters were issued citations for disorderly conduct.
Another Philadelphia police officer was injured in a motorcycle crash leaving the 15th district protest. He suffered a broken leg and was taken the hospital for treatment.
Those attending the four-day International Association of Chiefs of Police convention say a major topic of conversation is the best way to handle street protests.
"I just sat in on [a session] that had to do with large crowd controls because those are major incidents around the nation, particularly as it pertains to the first amendment issues that our protesters want and we have to grant the first amendment rights of the protesters," Detective Mark Pacini of the Ocean City, Maryland said.
A number of law enforcement agencies are on patrol Sunday around the Convention Center.
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