Mummers Parade marches on in 2016 as BLM protesters get arrested
By Alex Lloyd Gross
The Mummers Parade is a New Years Day tradition in Philadelphia. It is enjoyed by thousands of people and appeals to all ages. So it is baffling to anyone with common sense as to why a handful of people protesting the Black Lives Matter movement would see fit to disrupt the event. A handful of about 30 carried signs and were warned by cops they had to stay on the sidewalk in the public area. Had they done that, they would be fine. The protesters had no common sense but they were aware that people were not paying attention to them.
After about two hours of being peaceful, they ventured onto South Broad Street where some of them were arrested. The Mummers are about celebrating good times and the people attending are about as likely to sympathize with any protest group as they are to build a ladder to the moon. The string bands are a favorite of everyone , as they put on a few performances in some select areas on South Broad Street. Some of the themes of this years string bands were money, Mexican culture, another had a mad scientist .
Comics preceded them and put on quick themed shows such as a take on Bruce jenner turning into a woman. They like to seize on current events and top stories and make a parody of it. The weather cooperated and it felt like a January day, cold but not brutal. The string bands concluded by 5:30 PM and then some people went to the Pennsylvania Convention Center, for the Fancy show. This is so big it needs a building the size of the convention center to hold it. Most of the clubs got smart and did not have a huge front piece as a prop.
When they do, it blocks the audience and they cannot see. Some of the stronger themes were monsters, a zoo and a karate fighting Asian theme. As for the string bands, Uptown should take first place according to social media with their Uptown Fire Company theme.