The Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia next week is expected to draw a big crowd, including more than 4,000 delegates, to the Wells Fargo Center to witness and celebrate the nomination of Hillary Clinton as the party’s presidential candidate. But the largest crowds gathering outside of the venue are shaping up to be pro-Bernie Sanders demonstrations.
Permits for nine rallies hosted by Sanders supporters, between Sunday and Friday, have been approved by the city of Philadelphia. Several of the events are expected to attract thousands, and in some cases tens of thousands, of participants.
At the largest of the rallies scheduled, “March for Bernie at DNC,” an estimated 30,000 are expected to attend the five-day event from Sunday (the day before the start of the convention) to Thursday.
Organizers for a single-day rally, “Bernie Sanders Rally/March,” anticipate between 5,000-15,000 Sanders supporters on Monday. Two more events, to be held by Black Men for Bernie, are expected to attract 2,000 attendees apiece during the latter half of the week.
Though the total number of activists expected to descend on Philadelphia is unclear, the city expects on average 35,000-50,000 “protesters each day across the city.” Another estimate by the city predicts up to 38,000 activists attending four of the bigger pro-Sanders events.
The Sanders rallies take up a third of the 27 approved events so far that are zoned to take place at Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park, located right across the street from the Wells Fargo Center.
Some — though not all — of the events are in protest of Clinton and the Democratic National Committee and hope to rally last-minute support for a Sanders presidency, though the Vermont senator himself has endorsed Clinton. Groups not holding rallies at FDR Park, but are planning demonstrations in opposition to the former secretary of state, are also in the works, including a “fart-in.”
Organizers for the largest event not associated with Sanders — pegged as a “Candlelight Vigil to Commemorate the Death of Democracy” — plan for a gathering of 8,000 people on Tuesday. The March for Clean Energy Revolution, slated for Sunday, plans for up to 5,000 activists.
Also approved to hold rallies are the Westboro Baptist Church and Trump for PA. The campaign for Green Party candidate Jill Stein will also be in the neighborhood Sunday through Thursday, holding a rally with music, speakers and a 90-foot-by-50-foot tent.
More information about the rallies, including start time and exact locations, can be found here.
