Philadelphia Professor Arrested for Blocking Delivery Robots in Public Protest
Philadelphia police arrested 78-year-old Carolyn Marvin, a retired communications professor from the University of Pennsylvania, on October 14 after she repeatedly blocked a delivery robot on a city sidewalk. The incident, which resulted in a citation for disorderly conduct, marks the first time Marvin has faced legal consequences for a practice she described as a habit
since autonomous delivery devices began operating in the city.
Marvin, who was carrying a jar of enchilada sauce and chicken biryani at the time of the confrontation, maintained that she never expected to be arrested because she believed she was not obstructing a person. I was under the impression that I had more rights than the robot did,
she said. Philadelphia police reported that they were dispatched to the scene following a call regarding criminal mischief involving a delivery robot.
Officers stated that Marvin refused to comply with multiple commands to move out of the machine’s path. When they arrived, officers encountered a female who was refusing to allow a delivery robot to pass,
the department wrote in an email, noting that they issued multiple commands for her to move, which she refused to follow. Marvin believes her arrest was ultimately triggered by a member of the larger-than-usual crowd that gathered to watch the confrontation.
Motivations for Protest
Marvin views her actions as a symbolic protest against the presence of corporate technology in public spaces. She cited concerns regarding the displacement of low-income delivery workers, potential physical hazards to pedestrians, and privacy issues stemming from the robots’ built-in cameras. I also think that I have a First Amendment right to protest the abuses of corporations in public space, in the same public space that the robots are occupying,
she stated. Her history of activism includes participation in movements supporting civil rights, abortion rights, and Black Lives Matter, as well as opposition to the Vietnam and Gulf wars. She views her current mission as an extension of those impulses, stating, It’s what we need to do to make sure the government hears the will of the people.
Marvin noted that while she does not have unlimited time to dedicate to the practice, if she encounters a robot and it is convenient and possible
for her, she might spend 10 or 15 minutes blocking it to delay its journey. She maintains that the impact on customers is minimal, with an office worker’s lunch potentially delayed by about 15 minutes at most. Following the arrest, she noted that a friend summarized the situation by saying, Well, you got a disorderly conduct charge for impeding capitalism.
Legal Status of Delivery Devices
Following her arrest, Marvin learned that her actions intersected with specific state legislation. In 2020, the Pennsylvania legislature passed a law classifying autonomous delivery robots—officially termed personal delivery devices
—as pedestrians rather than vehicles. This classification was contentious during its passage, facing opposition from labor unions and accessibility advocates who warned of risks to pedestrians and job security.