A sea of red marched up and down Columbus Boulevard yesterday flashing signs and sounding off on local politicians.
And all that the protestors want is some peace and quiet in their neighborhood.
In an effort to halt the proposed construction of a casino located on the waterfront between Tasker Avenue and Reed Street, over 100 Southeast Philadelphia residents lined Columbus Boulevard yesterday, protesting the traffic congestion, crime and other quality-of-life issues that they feel a casino may bring to the area.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board will choose from among five applicants for two Philadelphia slot licenses. Casino operator Foxwoods is one of the applicants, and should it receive a license, a casino would be built in that neighborhood. A decision is expected by November or December, according to the board's Web site.
Rene Goodwin, chairwoman of Riverfront Communities United, which sponsored the rally, said the community opposes the social ills that could arise if the casino is built.
"There's air pollution, traffic and noise pollution," she said. "Study after study has also consistently proven that gambling has gone hand-in-hand with alcohol abuse and [other social problems]. These are costs that are just not worth paying."
Goodwin added that the proposed riverfront site is especially inappropriate because of the cultural and historical significance of the area.
The Gloria Dei Church, the second-oldest church in the country, is near the proposed site, and there are 14 schools and over 25,000 housing units within a two-mile radius.
"It's difficult to say that there is a good spot to put a casino, but it's absolutely easy to say that this is the worst spot," Goodwin said.
Clad in red shirts, most of the protestors paraded the length of the proposed site, chanting "No casino here" and holding signs berating Foxwoods Development Company - the majority stakeholder in the bid - as well as Gov. Ed Rendell for allowing the casinos to be built in his home city.
"If the governor is expecting continuing support in Philadelphia, he better reconsider his position on the Foxwoods site," Goodwin said.
Protestors plan to reconvene on Nov. 14 in Harrisburg at the start of the application process, where they are hoping to continue to send a strong message to the Control Board and the state government.
"If this happens, I'm not going to stay," area resident Bob O'Neill said. "This is the last neighborhood in the city where people can visit their grandparents just a few houses away. . If the casino comes, the neighborhood would completely change."
