Philadelphians March Through Center City to Protest Monsanto, GMOs

By Joshua Albert

On Saturday, around 1000 people peacefully marched circuitously through Center City, starting at 3 pm in Rittenhouse Square and ending roughly an hour later at LOVE park.

Protesters in Philadelphia joined people in cities around the world in the second annual March Against Monsanto, calling for the permanent boycott of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).

Local supporters of a global protest movement against the giant bioengineering conglomerate responsible for such choice contributions as Agent Orange celebrated the 1 year anniversary of a worldwide protest action which drew millions. Police were on the scene throughout the event and interactions remained civil. The Philly March Against Monsanto issued a statement emphasizing their action’s non-violent nature, and indeed many families and young children were in attendance.

From the website: 

We are committed to artistically creative and absolutely pacifist forms of expressing our relentless, firm, and unwavering opposition to the monopolistic, dangerous, and criminal business practices of Monsanto. No violence, vandalism, or any form of anti-social or un-civil behavior is sanctioned or will be permitted. We want people to attend the march with their families and enjoy a day in in the city of brotherly love while expressing our right to free speech and freedom to assemble without harassment by any individual or entity.