South Philadelphia Group Stands Guard In Marconi Plaza To Protect Controversial Christopher Columbus Statue

Matt Petrillo reports.

AND MUSICIANS ACCEPTED AMESSAGE OF UNITY IN HOPES OFCOMMUNITY HEALING.I'M JOE HOLDEN.DOZENS ARE STANDING GUARD ATTHE BASE OF A STATUE IN SOUTHPHILADELPHIA AND THEIR EFFORTSTO SPARE IT FROM BEING TORNDOWN.MATT PETRILLO LIVE IN SOUTHPHILADELPHIA WITH WHAT BROUGHTOUT THAT CROWD, MATT.Reporter: JOE, GOOD EVENINGTO YOU THERE'S A LARGE CROWDHERE GUARDING THE STATUE INSOUTH PHILADELPHIA.IT LOOKS TO BE 40 OR SO OFTHEM RIGHT NOW.EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON IT WASDOUBLE THAT MOTHER AND AMONGTHAT SOME WITH BASEBALL BATSAND OTHER CARRYING GUNS ANDWHILE THIS WAS HAPPENING THEREWERE PEACEFUL PROTESTS INANOTHER PART OF INDEPENDENT.ROUGHLY 3,000 PEOPLE FILLEDNORTH BROAD OUTSIDE OF WHATWILL BECOME THE NEWHEADQUARTERS OF PHILADELPHIAPOLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE CITYSPRING GARDEN SECTION.MANY CALLING ON CITY LEADOTHERS TO PARTIALLY DEFUND THEPOLICE DEPARTMENT.I SDOBT FIND -- I THINKTHE SERVICES THEY ARE TOPROVIDE SMU BE PUT IN BETTERPLACES.SCHOOL, HEALTHCARE,POLICE DON'T OFFER SOCIALSERVICES IF THERE IS ADOMESTIC DISPUTE YOU DON'TNEED TOE SEND THE POLICE TOMAKE IT WORSE.SOMEWHERE HOLDING SIGNSTHAT READ THIS IS THE REVOLTAGAINST RACEAGAINST RACISM.MEANTIME APPLAUSE ERUPTEDFOR A COUPLE THAT SAID I DO INFRONT OF AN AUDIENCE OFTHOUSANDS.AND AS THAT WAS HAPPENING.EVERYTHING WE'RE PAINTINGIS PEACE AND LOVE.A GROUP PAINTING MURALSLIKE HERE AT THE PHILADELPHIARUNNING SENATOR RITTENHOUSESQUARE WITH THE HOET HOPE TOSPREAD BROTHERLY LOVE ANDSISTER LEALLY AFFECTION.IT'S CALLED WALLS FOR JUSTICE.WE WORKED WITH COMMUNITYMEMBERS AND BUSINESS OWNOTHERS TO ACCEPTED AA MESSAGEOF SOLIDARITY TO THECOMMUNITY.AND BACK HERE IN MARCONYPLAZA AMANY TELL US THEY WILLBE HERE ALL NIGHT GUARDING THECHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS STATUEAND THEY WANT TO SEND AMESSAGE TO JIM KENNY THEY DO