First published in The Record, Nov. 7, 2020

Moderation won the election. In Philly’s streets, it lost.

America has voted for moderation.

After a presidential election season notable for its extremity — a Republican incumbent, President Donald Trump, whose campaign stoked racist fears of Black Lives Matter protests attacking suburbs, and several Democratic candidates who advocated breaking up big Wall Street banks and Medicare for all — on Saturday, it all came down to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, two moderate Democrats with long histories of taking the political middle path. 

But on the streets of Philadelphia on Saturday, moderation was in short supply. Extremity reigned. Anyone looking for the challenges that lie ahead for President-elect Biden need look no further than the old heart of this old city, where radicals of every stripe insisted their movements for change are only beginning. 

"This isn't over. Trump won," said Jim Young, 52, a Trump supporter from Roxborough, Pennsylvania, who came to the Pennsylvania Convention Center to support the president. "Fraud happened. Laws were broken. We're gonna go to the Supreme Court, and we're gonna win."

"This is the beginning, not the end," said Donna Oblongata, 37, a reluctant Biden supporter. "I don't love Biden. But if I'm going to fight systemic racism, I'd rather be fighting liberals than fascists."

The protest scenes were as radical as some of the protesters. For days, liberals have gathered outside the convention center before a loudspeaker system, which pumped out a procession of funk dance songs by Michael Jackson and Kool & The Gang. 

On Saturday the liberals had no loud stereo, but the conservatives did. They brought a darker mood, as a DJ dressed in a black suit played songs by Black Sabbath and Rage Against the Machine.

In between talking to reporters, Young banged his head, played air guitar and sang along to "One" by Metallica, including these lyrics: "Hold my breath as I wish for death. Oh God, wake me!"

"Trump won in a landslide!" yelled John Koehnen, 37, from Delaware County, outside Philadelphia.

"Loser!" screamed Re'Ann Mercier, 21, a Philadelphia resident who held her right thumb and pointer finger above her head to form an "L." "For four years we've had to put up with Trump's nonsense. It feels good to finally have a day."

A few blocks away, at City Hall, Oblongata and seven volunteers sweated in the setting sun to hold aloft an enormous bald eagle puppet. The eagle weighs hundreds of pounds, and measures 30 feet from its gold sequined beak to its tail feathers, crafted from white lace.

The beak was so heavy it required a separate puppeteer, Ali Goss, just to hold it up. 

"Philly was tough for Biden, and now we're going to be tough against Biden," said Goss, 25, a Philadelphia resident. "We're going to demand universal health care and an end to racist policing. Just because Biden won, none of that goes away."

Even those out simply to party did so extremely. Kholoud Rahmoun stood on the seat of a gray SUV, her torso sticking out of the sunroof, her head and shoulders draped in a red Moroccan flag that fluttered in the wind as she traveled down 8th Street.

"It's over!" she said. 

At the steps of Philadelphia City Hall, Heidi Simons drained the last drops from a liter bottle of Mionetto prosecco. 

"I feel amazing, let me tell you!" said Simons, 21, of Bryn Mawr. "Good things happen in Philadelphia!"