Sunrise activists block 76ers traffic to demand $415 million in city spending

Sunrise Movement members blocked the Broad Street exit ramp of Interstate 76 on Tuesday evening, halting traffic during the first Philadelphia 76ers home game of the season. Approximately ten activists, including organizer Erica Brown, stood on the roadway to delay vehicles heading to the arena. Brown wore a costume resembling a basketball hoop and held a sign that read "LeBron is a billionaire." Fellow members displayed a banner reading "Make Philly Affordable."

The blockade lasted about 20 minutes, causing a backup on I-76 and prompting drivers to honk and exit their vehicles. No demonstrators were seriously injured, and police did not respond for more than 20 minutes. Some drivers crossed the grass median onto Broad Street to bypass the group. No arrests were made during the traffic stop.

The action is part of a sustained campaign by the local Sunrise chapter and a coalition of six other groups, collectively known as Make Philly Affordable. The coalition is demanding the city allocate $415 million from its current $1.1 billion surplus to address local needs. The largest portion of the request is $120 million annually for a new food assistance program, which organizers say would restore food security for 50,000 residents affected by federal SNAP changes.

Other demands include $90 million for rec center staffing, $80 million for library operations, and $50 million for the Philadelphia Energy Authority's solar and efficiency programs. The group also seeks $30 million for expanded free SEPTA passes, $25 million for 220 substitute teachers, and $20 million to preserve deeply affordable housing. Organizers argue that the city accumulated its surplus through pandemic-era federal subsidies, higher taxes, and workforce reductions, yet has not used the funds to support the working class.

Giavanna Troilo, a fellow organizer, stated that the group has spent months demanding a meeting with Mayor Cherelle Parker. She said the mayor delayed a promised meeting following a 21-day hunger strike that Troilo and Brown undertook in May. Troilo described the confrontational tactics as a necessary response to officials who only respond to disruption. "Disruption, organizers say, is the only language people in power understand," she said.

In a related action last week, Sunrise members entered City Hall to demand the same meeting. One activist was arrested during that demonstration, but Troilo said Parker's staff acknowledged the debt for a face-to-face conversation. The City Controller's Office did not respond to requests for comment on the specific spending demands.

The coalition's financial arguments cite data from a 2026 Pew report, which found that the median household income in Philadelphia is approximately $60,000, a gap of more than $20,000 below the national average. The city's Office of Homeless Services reported in 2025 that nearly 20% of residents have insufficient access to food. Troilo noted that climate-related disasters have increased by 83% over two decades, according to a 2020 U.N. study, which she said justifies the risk of arrest for activists.

Drivers stuck in the traffic expressed frustration. Orlando Monte, an Amazon employee who was caught in the blockade, said he had to get to work and had no personal stake in the debate over billionaires. "I have nothing to do with LeBron or billionaires," Monte said. He suggested the group would have more impact if it targeted politicians rather than working commuters.

Brown, who was thrown onto the sidewalk by a driver during the protest, said the group's actions are driven by a desire to make the public feel the pain of economic inequality. "We're building a mass movement," Troilo said. The group plans to continue its campaign to secure the meeting with the mayor and to push the City Council to approve the $415 million in targeted spending.

The next scheduled step is the meeting with Mayor Parker, which her office has not yet confirmed for a specific date. The coalition will continue to monitor the City Council's response to the seven key demands as the legislative session progresses.