They were directed into Lincoln Financial Field, the home of the Philadelphia Eagles football team and near the Wells Fargo Center, the home of the NBA’s 76ers and host venue for the convention.
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Less than two months before the convention, the city passed legislation allowing police to write the equivalent of traffic tickets instead of making criminal arrests for many nuisance crimes, such as disorderly conduct, blocking a street and failure to disperse.
An estimated 50,000 people are expected in Philadelphia, including hundreds of protesters and members of the media.
Another group of protesters, called the Democracy Spring, got through the first security fence by getting a ride on Uber, which has a pick-up/drop-off point there.
The protesters got into the Secret Service designated zone, but did not enter the Wells Fargo Center, where the convention is being held, according to the security agency.
Officers yelled back: “Chill out” as the protesters approached closer to the police line.
Thousands of police and law enforcement officers are protecting the arena, the site of the Democratic National Convention. All are said to be Bernie Sanders supporters.
Black Lives Matter is also set to march on the city with a “Shut Down the DNC” event that begins at City Hall at 4 p.m.
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Philadelphia wanted to avoid a repeat of 2000, when police arrested more than 400 protesters at the Republican National Convention, only to see most cases end in acquittals.
