Children stage 'die-in' protest in Wynnefield Heights
WYNNEFIELD HEIGHTS (WPVI) -- A group of children, parents and other adults staged a rally, march and 'die-in' protest Saturday morning in the Wynnefield Heights section of Philadelphia.
The demonstration calling for social justice and an end to police brutality began at 8:30 a.m. Saturday in the parking lot of the Target store at City Avenue and Monument Road.
About 50 people, most of them children, attended the rally.
The group then marched a short distance to the intersection of City and Monument to stage a 'die-in' protest. As the children lay down on the street, the adults encircled them, some with their hands up, some holding posters.
The protestors lay and stood silently in the intersection for about 10 minutes, then stood up and began chanting, calling for recognition and understanding.
The event wrapped up with several short speeches.
The protest shut down traffic at the busy intersection for about 20 minutes.
Numerous Philadelphia police units were on the scene to ensure the safety of the participants and divert traffic.
The demonstration was led by 8-year-old Aniyah Ayres, founder of Aniyah's Mission, a charity organization dedicated to the memory of her late father, a pastor.
The group partnered with the True Way Youth Empowerment Foundation to stage the rally.
