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Rain slows fiery Democratic National Convention protests

Despite President Barack Obama’s fiery speech Wednesday night, the final day of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia had a relaxed environment.

In Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park, across the street from the convention in Wells Fargo Center, protesters camped out in tents with signs criticizing Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, capitalism and the DNC itself.

“We promote being human,” said Elliott Hess, an anarchist farmer and member of The People’s Project who was distributing free vegan chili and tea.

Down in Center City, at least 100 protesters gathered in Dilworth Plaza across from City Hall to protest the Democratic National Committee’s treatment of former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. Several Sanders-supporting delegates spoke to the crowd, encouraging listeners to circumvent the two-party system and be politically active and said they were “treated like s**t” by the Democratic party.

“If Bernie lost fair and square, I probably would’ve voted for Hillary,” Bruce Carter, of Black Men For Bernie, said.

Once it began to rain around 2 p.m., Carter’s group — the demonstration’s organizers — brought the event to a close by urging the crowd to “de-register” from the Democratic party while opening the microphone to other protesters for final remarks.

“We’re not going to sit on our asses and complain back home,” Kimberly Lowe, a Virginia delegate, said.

Arthur Smith, from New Jersey, protests outside the Democratic National Convention security cordon at the Wells Fargo Center. Smith is against "all free trade", the "one point [he] agrees with Trump on." However, he has no intention of voting for the Republican candidate, with his support wavering between former Republican candidate Rand Paul and former Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders. Stephen Caruso | Visual Editormore
Around 50 activists camped out in Franklin D. Roosevelt Park outside the Wells Fargo Center, advocating against the two party system. Stephen Caruso | Visual Editor
Stephen Caruso | Visual Editor
Support at the DNC was split between Clinton, Sanders, Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein and Libertarian Party presidential candidate Gary Johnson. Stephen Caruso | Visual Editor
Stephen Caruso | Visual Editor
The People's Project works to "promote being human" in self sufficient communities like the camp site in FDR Park, according to Elliot Hess, a member for the past 4 months. Stephen Caruso | Visual Editormore
Hess spoons a serving of vegan chili to Joshua Kelly, 7, who is at the campsite with his mother, CJ. Stephen Caruso | Visual Editor
Stephen Caruso | Visual Editor
A Sanders supporter looks on at a stage in Dilworth Plaza set up by Black Men for Bernie to campaign against Sander's supporters treatment at the DNC. Stephen Caruso | Visual Editor
Stephen Caruso | Visual Editor
Shane Assadzandi, a Sanders supporting West Virginia delegate, speaks to the crowd of roughly 100 in Dilworth Plaza. Some delegates planned to go back into the convention and make their dissent known. Stephen Caruso | Visual Editormore
However, Assadzandi disowned his credentials out of anger. Stephen Caruso | Visual Editor
Bruce Carter, founder of Black Men for Bernie, speaks to the crowd in Dilworth Plaza. Stephen Caruso | Visual Editor
Stephen Caruso | Visual Editor
Stephen Caruso | Visual Editor
"The Democratic Party needs to be here to expand their base," a speaker said.
Jerry Martinez is from Austin, Texas and supported Sanders in the Democratic primaries. However, he plans to vote for Jill Stein in November unless the Democrats "promise to not accept corporate donations [and] ban fracking." Stephen Caruso | Visual Editormore
Joel Bradshaw, from Schenectady, New York, carries an upside American flag in Dilworth Plaza. Stephen Caruso | Visual Editor
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