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testers in Seattle to light on fire and fling over a large crowd. 

“The events of this week did not happen in a vacuum. We do have precedence in Seattle and in Washington,” Timoney said. 

Activists dismissed the accusations. 

“There’s no way for one organization or one individual to be accountable for the actions of everyone else,” said Celia Alario, one of dozens of people with the Ruckus Society who helped train demonstrators before the Philadelphia convention. 

In addition to the Ruckus Society, police have singled out the leaders of Philadelphia ACT UP, the nation’s largest chapter of the national AIDS advocacy group, and of Philadelphia Direct Action Group, an affiliate of the Asheville, N.C.-based Direct Action Network. 

The accusations are surprising because these groups have been acclaimed for inspiring non-violent activism that has resulted in large, mostly peaceful demonstrations over the past year. 

However, the two largest demonstrations – in Seattle last fall, and Washington, D.C., in April – were marred by hundreds of arrests and property damage. Philadelphia ACT UP, Ruckus and the Direct Action Network also were involved in training and organizing in Seattle and Washington. 

“We thought these are not bad people. They’re not going to engage in anything violent. But their actions belie their words,” Deputy Commissioner Robert Mitchell said. 

Police did not name the activist leaders singled out as the lead organizers. However, police confirmed that the leaders are facing the most serious charges and have been assigned the highest bails. 

John Sellers, 33, a leader of the Ruckus Society, was being held on $1 million bail for misdemeanors including conspiracy, reckless endangerment and related charges. 

Terrence McGuckin, a leader of Philadelphia ACT UP, also was being held on $500,000 bail for numerous misdemeanors. Defense lawyer Lawrence Krasner said Kate Sorensen, 34, a leader of the Philadelphia Direct Action Group, was in custody and expected to face charges similar to those against Sellers and McGuckin. 

Two men accused of felony assault on an officer, including 20-year-old Darby Landy who is charged with hitting the commissioner with a bicycle, were each charged with felony assault on an officer and being held on $500,000 and $450,000 bail. 

Police said 390 people have been arrested since Saturday, including 39 charged with felonies. More than 300 people were arrested Tuesday during sometimes-violent brawls with police and several traffic-blocking demonstrations. 

Krasner, who represents 10 jailed activists, said many of the protesters were held on unreasonably high bail to keep them in jail until the convention ended Thursday night. 

“It’s an unconscionable, ridiculous bail and completely off the map from the norm,” Krasner said. “This is a desperate effort to systematically punish these people without a trial, to lock them up, keep them off the streets.”