Traffic alert: Court stops Convention Center protests
Protesters, calling for more work for African American contractors, blocked traffic in Center City and disrupted work this morning on the $800 million expansion of the Convention Center.
Protesters, calling for more work for African American contractors, blocked traffic in Center City and disrupted work this morning on the $800 million expansion of the Convention Center.
But the standoff didn't last - sparing Center City motorists some detours this afternoon.
About 1 p.m., the demonstrators left because the Convention Center Authority was granted a temporary injunction by Common Pleas Court Judge Idee Fox.
A hearing tomorrow morning will determine whether the protests can continue, a court official said.
This morning, eight 70-foot steel trusses were stuck on two flatbed trucks parked on Arch Street, stymied from reaching the construction site's main gate by more than a half-dozen men standing in the road with signs.
Police diverted traffic from three of the streets - Arch, Race and 12th - that border the project.
Drivers were permitted only along the busiest flank, Broad Street, where the turns onto Arch and Race were each filled with a dozen or so protesters, holding up signs with such messages as "Blacks need work too," "This practice is against the law," and "Employment now for Philadelphia black workers."
Of the hundreds of millions of dollars being spent, much more needs to go into the community, said activist Fred Tooks, walking along Race Street.
"You can't complain about crime and not give people jobs," he said.
This is a disgrace," said Kevin Lumpkin, 48, an iron worker from Overbrook near the Arch Street gate. "The politicians need to stand up and make changes."
Fellow demonstrators agreed that they'd keep coming back, and maybe file their own lawsuit, until more African American contractors and subcontractors are let in on the action.
"Our future depends on this," said one.
Now however, the future of any demonstrations rests with the courts.
Protesters also made an appearance in early March.
Calls requesting comment were made to Convention Center and construction officials, but had not been returned as of late fternoon.
