Philadelphia police acted quickly Tuesday evening to shut down a disruptive protest in Center City that briefly turned confrontational. The demonstration, originally organized in response to recent ICE arrests, drew dozens of activists—many wearing Palestinian keffiyehs and waving Palestinian flags—who attempted to block traffic and occupy intersections near City Hall.

Chants of “Shut it down” and “No borders, no nations” echoed through the streets as the crowd linked arms and tried to halt the flow of vehicles and pedestrians in one of the city’s busiest areas. Though no explicit pro-Hamas signs were visible, the heavy presence of Palestinian imagery gave the event a distinctly political tone, drawing criticism from onlookers who saw it as an attempt to exploit immigration concerns for a broader ideological agenda.

The stretch outside City Hall has become a frequent staging ground for pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel protests. Past demonstrations at this very spot have included protesters openly waving Hamas and Hezbollah flags, burning American flags, and chanting “Empire will fall” and “Globalize the Intifada.” Monday’s events appeared to follow that same ideological playbook, even if organizers framed it as a local immigration protest.

Philadelphia police wasted no time. Officers in riot gear quickly surrounded the group, issued warnings, and moved in with strategic precision with batons to quell the crowd. Multiple arrests were made as protesters refused to disperse, and the area was cleared before dark.

“This ain’t L.A.,” one officer was reportedly heard saying—an apparent reference to the more hands-off responses seen in other major cities where similar protests have dragged on for hours or days.

Videos from the scene showed police calmly but firmly removing demonstrators, many of whom sat in the street in defiance. Some accused officers of being heavy-handed, but the majority of the response was orderly and efficient.

A spokesperson for the Philadelphia Police Department said the protest posed an “unacceptable disruption to public safety and traffic flow” and that officers acted in accordance with city protocols.

The swift takedown sent a clear message: while peaceful protest is a protected right, attempts to hijack public spaces and interfere with city operations won’t be tolerated in Philadelphia.