By 10 a.m. Friday, groups were seen gathering on the streets of South Philadelphia. New Year s isn t New Year s without the parade, said Cheryl Oriolo, who watched the makeshift parade-like protest from the sidewalk along Moyamensing Avenue.
Moyamensing and Morris saw a sea of painted faces for the annual New Year s Day strut. COVID changed stuff, we re gonna do it the right way. I don t have my mask on cause I m talking, but I m going to put it on when I m done. We re going to go around and serenade the neighbors, said Tony DiCarlo of South Philadelphia.
Though the Comics and the String Band associations asked that members skip this year s festivities, that didn t stop everyone.
By 10 a.m. Friday, groups were seen gathering on the streets of South Philadelphia. New Year s isn t New Year s without the parade, said Cheryl Oriolo, who watched the makeshift parade-like protest from the sidewalk along Moyamensing Avenue.
Moyamensing and Morris saw a sea of painted faces for the annual New Year s Day strut. COVID changed stuff, we re gonna do it the right way. I don t have my mask on cause I m talking, but I m going to put it on when I m done. We re going to go around and serenade the neighbors, said Tony DiCarlo of South Philadelphia.
Though the Comics and the String Band associations asked that members skip this year s festivities, that didn t stop everyone.
However, thousands say they are planning to march, rather protest, on New Year s Day.
A Facebook group titled Mummers/New Year s Day Peaceful Protest Against Mayor Kenney so far has more than 2,600 RSVPs, with more than 8,000 who say they are interested in attending. Well, I think it s important to remember that the bulk of the Mummers and their organized groups made clear that they weren t going to march this year, said Mayor Jim Kenney during Tuesday s COVID-19 briefing.
Kenney asked those that plan to protest to reconsider, but respects their right to. We ll try to keep them safe. If they would wear a mask that would be helpful, said Kenney.