Several people were arrested as pro-Palestinian protesters marched through Center City before making their way to City Hall on Thursday.
Six people were arrested on Thursday evening while participating in a pro-Palestinian protest outside of City Hall, according to a spokesperson with the Philadelphia Police Department.
Officials said that an officer was assaulted during the event on the Fourth of July.
Police were working to monitor the protesting group as "part of normal operations to ensure the safety of participants," officials explained.
Just after 8 p.m., the large group stopped on the 1400 block of John F. Kennedy Boulevard where people in the protest set "decorative items and flags on fire in the street," according to police.
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Officers say this was seen as escalating the protest beyond a peaceful demonstration so police issued orders to disperse.
When the group refused to disperse, some started throwing things like flags and poles at officers, police said.
In all, six people were arrested with five being charged with disorderly conduct, officers said.
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The sixth person was charged with aggravated assault and disorderly conduct for assaulting an officer in the face among other related charges, police said.
NBC10 cameras captured some of the protest where a large group of people could be seen carrying Palestinian flags while marching through Center City.
The large group of people were first seen blocking streets and marching near Ludlow and 18th streets.
Several were carrying signs calling for a ceasefire as the protest seemed to start off peacefully.
At one point, it looked as though some of the people participating in the protest threw smoke bombs.
Police with the bicycle unit were there to help officers as they made arrests and control the crowd.
Then, our cameras captured the moment when officers were arresting a person and another protester chased after them while wearing a Palestinian flag as a cape.
The person with the cape was then seen fighting with the officers as the other person got away.
A person filming this incident could be seen as they were then shoulder slammed by an officer from behind and almost fell to the ground. Several officers then grouped together facing the protesters who were nearby.
Many protesters could eventually be seen getting arrested and escorted to police vans.
The Philadelphia Police Department did not have any information to share with NBC10 when we reached out.
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