PHILADELPHIA — On Tuesday, a group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators clashed with police outside the presidential debate, but the situation was resolved without conflict. Hundreds gathered to protest the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.

Police in riot gear vastly outnumbered the dwindling crowd, which had decreased from several hundred protesters who marched from City Hall along Market Street. Officers formed a line against the protesters, leading to some pushing and shoving as demonstrators labeled them “fascists” and hurled water bottles their way.

The demonstrators, gathered outside Philadelphia City Hall, aimed to approach the Constitution Center, trying to bypass the heavily guarded area. The protesters expressed discontent with the support both presidential candidates have shown for Israel and their overall stance on the war. This conflict escalated after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 Israelis; in retaliation, Israeli military actions in Gaza led to over 40,000 Palestinian casualties, based on reports from the Hamas-run Ministry of Health.

During the debate, Vice President and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris advocated for a cease-fire and the release of hostages. She initially called for a cease-fire in Gaza as early as March, citing “immense suffering.”

Waving Palestinian flags and chanting pro-Palestinian slogans, the group, led by the Party for Socialism and Liberation, emphasized that “Harris and Donald Trump share more similarities than differences,” as organizer Claudia Dela from New York pointed out.

“Democracy is a facade,” Dela stated, arguing that both Harris and Trump belong to the same political class, which lacks true representation for working-class voices and concerns.

As police positioned themselves on 4th Street, some protesters encouraged each other to leave, and many complied. A masked individual ignited a red flare, prompting police to push demonstrators further back onto 4th Street. That person was taken into custody, but police presence remained low-key as the crowd dispersed down Ranstead, a narrow side street, before moving onto 5th Street.

Rabiul Chowdhury, a protester present on Thursday, noted that the “Abandon Harris” campaign was launching on Tuesday — a strategy aimed at pressuring the Harris campaign to secure a cease-fire in Gaza, or risk losing essential votes in pivotal states, such as Michigan and Pennsylvania.

Chowdhury expressed the view that the Harris campaign “is indifferent to our issues,” stating that the group is not endorsing Trump but is encouraging voters to consider third-party candidates like Jill Stein and Cornel West in the upcoming presidential election.