Penn deploys heavy police presence near campus in advance of 40th Street ‘link up' that drew hundreds of youth

Large groups of youths gathered at 40th, Market, and Walnut streets on Saturday evening after a social media post promoted the meetup, prompting a heavy police presence in the area.

The Nov. 22 gathering marked the second time this month that hundreds of young people have converged on the 40th Street corridor near Penn’s campus. Throughout the evening, officers from multiple law enforcement agencies blocked streets and redirected participants away from the University. 

CBS News reported that around 500 teenagers were present during the evening, adding that some became “disorderly,” jumped on police cars, and provoked officers. Police told CBS News that multiple arrests were made during the incident.

“When there is a breach of the peace … injuries to others or damage to property, then we’re going to step in and do what we need to do,” Philadelphia Police Department inspector DF Pace told CBS News.

Instagram and TikTok posts reviewed by The Daily Pennsylvanian promoted the gathering as a “40th Street Link Up.” The post — which had been shared more than 1,000 times as of the time of publication — included the caption “don’t bring no weapons just pop out to have fun.”

The posts included clips from past gatherings, showing large crowds walking down the street, youth climbing onto cars, crowded SEPTA stations, and several fights.

Penn’s Division of Public Safety alerted the campus community that it had been made aware of a post encouraging people to assemble in a Nov. 21 email. In the message, DPS wrote that it was coordinating with public safety departments to secure the area, adding that any gathering could affect vehicle traffic, pedestrians, and public transit. 

Requests for comment were left with DPS and Philadelphia Police.

Police officers were first seen stationed around 40th and Walnut street around 4:45 p.m., before any youth participants had arrived. Individuals began gathering around the area at 5:00 p.m., many wearing black medical masks and moving between the 40th Street SEPTA Station, McDonald’s, and other nearby storefronts. 

Multiple Penn Police Department vehicles remained parked with lights flashing between 36th and 40th streets on Market Street, with additional cars circulating throughout the evening. Officers temporarily blocked 40th Street near Sansom Street with a police car, before removing the vehicle and directing traffic manually.

McDonald’s locked its front entrance shortly after 5 p.m., leaving only the side door and ordering window open, where three Penn police officers were stationed. 

Around 5:15 p.m., larger groups of more than 50 youth gathered between McDonald’s and Chipotle Mexican Grill. Officers repeatedly told the groups to “keep it moving” as they directed them toward the SEPTA station. 

Near the 40th Street SEPTA Station, more than 20 officers — a mix of Penn Police, Philadelphia Police, SEPTA Transit Police, and Allied Universal employees — were positioned on both sides of Market Street. 

While adults and other pedestrians were allowed to walk down 40th Street, DP reporters observed officers preventing Black youth from entering the block, instead directing them east and west along Market. Several officers drew their batons while giving instructions. 

At around 7:30 p.m., one teenager was seen isolated by two police officers, with his hands behind his body and his back against a vehicle.  

By 7:45 p.m., most youth participants had cleared the area.

The Nov. 22 gathering comes two weeks after a similar event on Nov. 8, when several hundred youth gathered across during Penn’s Homecoming weekend. 

That incident resulted in three arrests — one for assaulting a police officer and two for disorderly conduct — after fights broke out while officers attempted to disperse the crowd, according to DPS. 

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