July 31, 2018
A contentious day in Center City saw eight more arrests at the Comcast Center during a protest Tuesday afternoon as city-wide and nation-wide protests against U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement continue.
Reyna Peralta, a volunteer organizer with protest group Movimiento Cosecha who was at the protest, told PhillyVoice in an email that activists held a sit-in for more than 90 minutes in the building’s lobby and “demanded Comcast terminate all existing contracts with ICE."
As of 5:45 p.m. ET, the eight protestors were released from custody, according to the Movimiento Cosecha Twitter account:
8 activists who were arrested in PHL earlier protesting Comcast's contract with ICE have been released! Pledge to take action with us: https://t.co/xvH9QER510 #WeWontBeComplicit pic.twitter.com/UrUkMY95ru
— Movimiento Cosecha (@CosechaMovement) July 31, 2018
A Philadelphia Police spokesperson confirmed the eight arrests to PhillyVoice.
Earlier Tuesday, three people were arrested during another anti-ICE protest in Center City, and protests have continued into the early evening.
You can see footage of the protests from inside the building here, from Twitter user Gwen Synder, one of the eight arrested:
Philly #abolishICE protesting Comcast' s profiteering from ICE https://t.co/l43qFlgrkO
— Gwen Snyder is uncivil (@gwensnyderPHL) July 31, 2018
Movimiento Cosecha describes itself as a “peaceful movement fighting for dignity, respect, and permanent protection immigrants in the United States” on its Facebook page. The group had organized a “National Day of Action Against ICE” for Tuesday, which featured protests across the country.
The Cosecha Movimiento protestors showed up to the Comcast Center with a sign targeting the corporation:
@Comcast - stop providing internet service to ICE!! #WeWontBeComplicit and will find other providers if u dont. pic.twitter.com/8r5wxfMd4N
— Movimiento Cosecha (@CosechaMovement) July 31, 2018
This all comes just days after Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney announced the city would discontinue ICE access to its real-time arrest database.
This is a developing story. We'll update as more information becomes available.
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