Philadelphia March For Our Lives: What You Need To Know

PHILADELPHIA – Thousands of people are planning to take the streets of Philadelphia Saturday, March 24 to protest gun violence and make calls for action to stem gun violence as part of the national March For Our Loves movement.

March for Our Lives is a student-led call to action launched by survivors of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

March For Our Lives Philadelphia is set to take place at 10 a.m. with marchers organizing at 5th and Market streets at 9:30 a.m.

The march begins at 5th and Market then heads through Old City. The route proceeds east on Market Street to Front Street, south on Front Street to Dock Street, then east on Dock Street, and ending with a rally at Lombard Circle on Columbus Boulevard.

The rally will begin at about 11:30 a.m. and end at about 2 p.m.

Those who cannot march but want to participate can go straight to Lombard Circle for the rally.

Communities across the nation are holding marches in conjunction with the central march in Washington DC to demand their lives and safety are a priority. It also calls to end gun violence and mass shootings in schools and gun violence in communities.

Those looking to march Saturday are asked to RSVP online here.

Lyft is offering free rides to the march staging area at 5th and Market. See here for details on how to get a free ride from Lyft.

With any event such as March For Our Lives, some roads will be affected and parking will be restricted.

The following streets will be closed starting at 6 a.m. until approximately 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 24:

• Columbus Boulevard from Dock Street to Lombard Circle
  • Local access will be maintained to the parking lots on the east (river) side of Columbus Boulevard, accessible via Lombard Circle. Motorists wishing to access these lots must travel northbound on Columbus Boulevard.
  • Local access will be maintained to the Interstate 95 northbound on ramp at Lombard Circle, accessible via northbound Columbus Boulevard.
  • Local access will be maintained to the Hilton Penn’s Landing, accessible via Dock Street and southbound Columbus Boulevard.

The following streets will be closed starting at 8 a.m. until approximately 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 24:

• 500 Market Street
• 5th Street from Market Street to Arch Street

All affected streets will be serviced and reopened as the march progresses. Additional closures and lane restrictions may be necessary in the interest of public safety. Motorists are advised to use caution and obey instructions of the Philadelphia Police Department.

The following streets will be posted as "Temporary No Parking" zones from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 24:

• N. 6th Street from Market Street to Arch Street (East Side)
• N. 5th Street from Market Street to Arch Street (East Side)
• Market Street from 5th Street to Front Street (Both Sides)
• Front Street from Market Street to Dock Street (Both Sides)
• Dock Street from Front Street to Columbus Blvd. (Both Sides)
• Columbus Blvd. from Dock Street to Lombard Circle (Both Sides)

Vehicles parked in these locations during posted hours will be relocated.

Delays should be expected during the march, City of Philadelphia officials said.

Motorists are advised to avoid the area by using alternate routes, and allow for extra driving time in areas near the event.

Due to related street closures, SEPTA Bus Routes will be detoured from their normal routes through the area beginning at 6:00AM on Saturday, March 24ththrough approximately 6:00PM. Detours will be posted and specific route changes will be made available on the System Status Page at www.septa.org

Regarding public safety, marchers are urged not to leave bags or items unattended.

In an emergency or to report a suspicious person, activity or item – such as a backpack, a package, a container – notify a police officer immediately or call 911. Should a suspicious item be found, do not try to open, move, cover or touch it.

The public should expect congestion in the area, officials said. If you are attending the event, make a plan regarding driving, public transit, parking, and supervision of children. It is recommended that attendees wear comfortable, weather-appropriate attire.

All locations mentioned above and the surrounding area is designated as a "No-Drone Zone," meaning Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and drones of any kind are not permitted.

(Alex Wong/Getty Images)