Diverse issues spur protesters at Democratic convention

PHILADELPHIA — As Hillary Clinton seeks to show delegates and voters she’s prepared to lead the country during turbulent times, protesters plan to use the Democratic National Convention to raise awareness of their issues, including gun violence, poverty, health care and the environment.

Some of the largest protests involve Bernie Sanders supporters, who plan to turn out in droves to show support for the former candidate. Some have pledged to deregister from the Democratic Party if he doesn’t become the nominee.

It’s unclear if Black Lives Matter activists will demonstrate; the group didn’t apply for a permit.

Protests during the Republican National Convention in Cleveland went smoothly, with anxiety and fear about violence proving unfounded. Philadelphia officials cautiously optimistic the same general calm will take root during protests in their city.

Here’s a look at the hottest issues for demonstrators in Philadelphia, based on those who have applied for permits or announced plans:

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ISSUE: Supporting Bernie Sanders, opening primaries, abolishing superdelegates

PROTEST GROUPS: Occupy DNC Convention, Bernie Sanders Supporters, Philly.FYI, March4Bernie

WHAT THEY PLAN: The groups plan marches on several days from City Hall to the convention site at the Wells Fargo Center, about four miles away. Some will rally at a park across from the convention site, where more than 30,000 are expected. They say they will deregister from the Democratic Party if Sanders isn’t the nominee. Others plan a candlelight vigil to symbolically pay their respects to “the dearly departed Democracy.”

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ISSUE: Gun violence

PROTEST GROUPS: Americans for Responsible Solutions PAC, CeaseFirePA

WHAT THEY PLAN: Americans for Responsible Solutions, started by former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, plans a Tuesday rally in support of taking a stand against gun violence. Giffords, a Democrat from Arizona, was badly wounded in a 2011 shooting that left six people dead and 13 injured in Tucson. Giffords and U.S. Rep. John Lewis will be among those rallying.

CANDIDATE’S POSITION: Clinton supports a ban on certain military-style weapons, similar to the law President Bill Clinton signed in the 1990s. That ban expired after 10 years and has not been renewed. Clinton also backs an expansion of existing criminal background checks to apply to weapons sales at gun shows. The checks now apply mainly to sales by federally licensed gun dealers.

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ISSUE: Climate change, renewable energy and keeping fossil fuels in the ground

PROTEST GROUP: Food & Water Watch

WHAT THEY PLAN: About 5,000 people are expected to take part in a “March for a Clean Energy Revolution” from City Hall to Independence Mall on July 24.

CANDIDATE’S POSITION: Clinton has pledged to promote renewable energy and cut greenhouse gas emissions and also revitalize coal communities.

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ISSUE: Unemployment, homelessness, supporting a single-payer health care system and ending “the prison industrial complex”

PROTEST GROUP: Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign

WHAT THEY PLAN: About 500 people are expected to march Monday from City Hall down Broad Street to the convention site. City officials initially denied the group’s permit for the “March for Our Lives,” citing the evening rush hour time request, and the group’s leader, Cheri Honkala, sued. The city settled the suit July 1, agreeing to issue the permit.

CANDIDATE’S POSITION: Clinton has proposed increasing federal money for community health centres and outlined steps to expand access to health care across the nation. She also has supported a federal hourly minimum wage floor of $12 and raising it to $15 in certain locations.

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ISSUE: Immigration reform and migrant rights

PROTEST GROUPS: Juntos and #Not1MoreCampaign

WHAT THEY PLAN: About 200 supporters will march from south Philadelphia, through the Italian Market to City Hall on Monday to protest the detention of immigrants in the Berks Family Detention Center, 60 miles west of Philadelphia, and the deportation of immigrants on a daily basis. They want the Obama administration to undo what they call “persisting inhumane immigration policies.”

CANDIDATE’S POSITION: Clinton supports immigration reform and creating a path to citizenship for an estimated 11 million people who are living in the U.S. illegally. She has said she will end family detention and close private immigration detention centres.

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ISSUE: Supporting Donald Trump’s presidential bid

PROTEST GROUP: Trump for PA

WHAT THEY PLAN: About 100 people are expected to rally Tuesday-Thursday at a park near the convention site to show support for the Republican nominee’s candidacy.

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ISSUE: Racism, police violence against blacks and oppression

PROTEST GROUP: Philly REAL Justice

WHAT THEY PLAN: About 300 people will rally and then march Tuesday, starting near Temple University down Broad Street, ending at City Hall.

CANDIDATE’S POSITION: Clinton has proposed a series of reforms to the criminal justice system, including developing national guidelines on the use of force by police, new investments in bias training, legislation to end racial profiling and funding for body cameras.

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ISSUE: Green energy, living wage jobs and free college education

PROTEST GROUP: Jill Stein for President

WHAT THEY PLAN: About 300 people are expected at a rally at FDR Park on Monday featuring music and speakers including Stein.

CANDIDATE’S POSITION: Clinton has unveiled a college affordability plan that would make in-state tuition free for families making $125,000 or less per year.

Kristen De Groot, The Associated Press