PHILADELPHIA — While President Obama was speaking about an optimistic America Wednesday night at the Democratic National Convention, dozens of followers of Sen. Bernard Sanders were taken into custody by police outside the arena and one demonstrator accidentally set herself on fire during the burning of an American flag.
A young woman suffered serious burns on her leg when her clothes caught fire as she stomped on a burning flag on the street outside the convention center.
One witness said the woman, who was not identified, was trying to put out the flames; she dropped to the ground and rolled as others poured water on her. First responders took her to a hospital.
Police said about 35 protesters outside the Wells Fargo Center were taken into custody when they refused police orders to stop blocking an exit to the convention site.
Seven masked demonstrators also were arrested shortly before 11 p.m. for scaling a fence outside the center and breaching the secure zone. The Secret Service said they were charged with entering a restricted area and face court hearings Thursday, according to philly.com.
More protests are planned in Philadelphia Thursday.
USA Today’s Digital Editor Natalie DiBlasio tweeted a video of the incident. (Note: The video contains profanity and shows someone catching on fire.)
A protester just caught on fire trying to stomp on a burning flag. #DNCinPHL #DemsInPhilly #DemConvention pic.twitter.com/tgnf5NqNmW
— Natalie DiBlasio (@ndiblasio) July 28, 2016
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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