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Gritty used as symbol to protest far-right rally in Philadelphia

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Philly residents turned out in scores Saturday morning to protest the white supremacist group the “Proud Boys” rally, and they brought Gritty with them.

The Flyers’ orange wild-eyed puppet-monster mascot has been embraced not just by hockey fans, but by anti-fascist activists and movements.

The phenomenon was profiled in the New Yorker after Donald Trump’s visit to the city on October 1.

This time, Gritty was explicitly the face of the “pushback” campaign.

Some people painted Gritty on signs, some dressed up in Flyers’ gear, and others crocheted Gritty hats. According to Twitter user Delibrarian, it seemed like there were “About 5 times as many gritty signs as nazis” present.

Parker Higgins, director of special projects at Freedom of the Press, tweeted that he’s “spent a lot of times around both protests and fandom communities, and the caliber of Gritty art here is exceptional.”

Here are some of the Gritty highlights from the peaceful protest against the “Proud Boys” hate group.

Here’s the statement from the Pushback Campaign about why it was important for Philadelphia residents to show up for the counter-protest:

Far-right groups with ties to Neo-Nazis known as the “Proud Boys” and the “Three Percenters” are planning to attend a rally in Philadelphia on November 17th called “We the People.” They provoke and attack people on the streets who they deem to be unworthy of their far-right, fascist vision of the country. The Proud Boys were present in Charlottesville, terrorize residents in the cities of Portland, New York, and Providence, and have been listed as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

The residents and allies of Philadelphia must stand in opposition to this escalation of the far-right’s push into the city’s culture and politics.

We are urging that people recognize the seriousness and danger of this situation and come out to oppose them on November 17th at the Independence Visitor Center (6th & Market) in Center City Philadelphia. There is safety in numbers, so to ensure the protection of vulnerable individuals and communities, it is imperative that as many people as possible show up in opposition. To get involved, please contact the #pushback campaign at the address below [pushbackcampaign@protonmail.com].

Philadelphia has embraced Gritty and identifies with him. There’s no room left in the City of Brotherly Love for hate.

Headline photo: @phawker

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