Philadelphia Activists Fend off Gentrification, Fear Arrests are Connected

Philadelphia's Francisville neighborhood is a predominantly working class African American community, but the surrounding neighborhoods have experienced recent gentrification, putting the pressure on Francisville to do the same.

On Friday, police arrived at the door of a former Francisville shoe store, the current home of Daniel Moffat, Trevor Burgess, Andrea Okorley and Jennifer Rock.  Daniel Moffatt owns the building and the group was slowly fixing it up.  According to the residents, the police did not present a warrant, but went inside anyway and arrested the four.  They were never charged.

I spoke with Andy Switzer, a close friend of the group, who has been helping them get the word out about Friday's events.  He says since Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter entered office on a "stop and frisk" platform, police presence in the neighborhood has increased.