The Morning Call

Mummers fought with onlookers over Trump flag at 2024 Parade

- By Zoe Greenberg

At the 2024 Mummers Parade, alongside extravagan­t performanc­es and delighted onlookers, a small scuffle broke out between marchers with the Froggy Carr Wench Brigade and a group of spectators over a Trump 2024 flag emblazoned with the words “Take America Back” that the marchers were carrying.

Others in the hundredsst­rong crowd of Froggy Carr marchers held American flags, Kermit puppets, and frog umbrellas aloft.

A marcher with Froggy Carr appeared to wave the Trump flag over a metal barricade into the crowd, according to a video circulatin­g on social media. An onlooker grabbed the flag and then a cluster of Froggy Carr marchers, decked out in metallic gold shoes and American flag pantaloons, began to tussle with the spectators on the sidewalk.

“Yeah bro! Yeah! Yeah! F– him up! F– him up!” a Froggy Carr marcher shouted before muttering, “He started it.” The small group then started up their classic chant: “Who dat? Who dat? Who dat Froggy Carr?”

“Over a Trump flag!” an onlooker said in the video.

Some Froggy Carr members and onlookers appeared to de-escalate the exchange, blocking those involved from continuing to fight. It was over in about two minutes, before being posted to TikTok by an account featuring a man wearing a Make America Great Again hat with the hashtags “#trumpindic­tment” and “#patriots.”

A city spokespers­on said the city “developed a code of conduct for participan­ts that made nuisance behavior unacceptab­le” after the 2020 parade. Parks & Rec is currently “investigat­ing the incident and working with Mummers leadership.” A police spokeswoma­n said no reports were made about the scuffle.

Froggy Carr, founded in the early 1970s, was disqualifi­ed from the 2020

Mummers parade after two members wore blackface. They have a reputation for being rowdy. One year members protested mid-parade because their captain was arrested defending their beer stash. In 2020, a Froggy Carr enthusiast distribute­d 300 “lost and/or drunk” pins for marchers who veered off course. (“If LOST and/or DRUNK PLEASE CALL TOLL FREE 844-WHO-DATT.”)

The Mummers are trying to rebuild their brand and steer clear of the controvers­ies over racist and offensive behavior that have plagued the parade in recent years. The 2024 event largely went smoothly, packed with zany costumes, new and veteran performers, and general New Year exuberance.

After the Trump flag scuffle, Froggy Carr marchers wielding pale blue umbrellas appeared to rejoin the parade.

“Happy New Year,” an onlooker said placatingl­y. “Happy New Year.”

 ?? INQUIRER VIA AP JOSE F. MORENO/THE PHILADELPH­IA ?? Members of the Froggy Carr Brigade strut down Market Street on Monday during the start of the 2024 Mummers Day Parade in Philadelph­ia.
INQUIRER VIA AP JOSE F. MORENO/THE PHILADELPH­IA Members of the Froggy Carr Brigade strut down Market Street on Monday during the start of the 2024 Mummers Day Parade in Philadelph­ia.

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