Woman arrested in Philadelphia for blocking Uber delivery robot
Carolyn Marvin, a 78-year-old professor emeritus at the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg School of Communication, was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct after blocking an Avride delivery robot working for Uber Eats in Philadelphia's Center City, according to ABC13 reports relayed by The Verge, TechSpot and Gizmodo. Police responded near Reading Terminal Market, asked her to let the robot pass, and handcuffed her when she refused. Marvin told ABC13 she has blocked delivery robots repeatedly because she believes they are taking jobs from human delivery workers, and said she considers the protests her First Amendment right and plans to keep going.
The arrest turned a local protest into widely shared video and coverage, illustrating the public backlash against autonomous delivery robots that the reports tie to broader concern about automation and lower-skill jobs.
A woman was arrested in Philly for blocking a delivery robot
Carolyn Marvin was charged with ‘disorderly conduct’ for protesting delivery robots taking jobs.
Carolyn Marvin was charged with ‘disorderly conduct’ for protesting delivery robots taking jobs.
by Terrence O'Brien
Oct 18, 2026, 6:28 PM UTC

#Carolyn Marvin#Avride#Uber Eats#Philadelphia Police Department#University of Pennsylvania#Annenberg School for Communication