Two days after a march and sit-in on the Comcast building that led to nine arrests, the Occupy Philly movement planned a march and subsequent “photo opportunity” to protest 2012 Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney’s visit to Philadelphia on Friday. And they weren't alone.
Romney attended a $10,000-per-plate dinner at the Rittenhouse Hotel in Center City Friday evening. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that his campaign expects to make $300,000 from the reception, part of which will come from the $2,500 photo-ops Romney is offering.
“From Cantor to Clinton to Romney we Occupy Philly object to a political system that has prioritized financial contributions over people’s voices,” read an announcement on the Occupy Philly Facebook page detailing the planned protest. “A march is planned from City Hall to The Rittenhouse Hotel at 4PM where Mitt Romney will pose with campaign contributors for $2,500 per picture. Occupy Philly will hold our own photo-op on the street for those who cannot afford this common influence on American politics and refuse to let money alone drive policy.”
In addition to Occupy Philly, other groups including Fight For Philly, MoveOn.org Political Action, Keystone Progress, Americans United for Change and Concerned Philadelphians protested Romney outside the hotel, according to PoliticsPA.
Romney was spotted walking into his hotel as protesters chanted. He did not speak to or seem to notice them.
Police made no arrests during Friday's protests.
