From the top of the year to its tail end, 2025 was a series of unforgettable moments. From grassroots protests and festivals rooted in Philadelphia’s communities to global movements that found their way to its streets, our team of photographers bore witness to it all.
The year began with President Donald Trump inaugurated as the 47th president of the United States in January. One month later, the Eagles won their second Super Bowl. Both events ignited a citywide uproar. As winter turned into spring, the national political climate grew increasingly tense, and Philadelphia did not remain silent. Chants of “No Kings,” “Free Palestine,” and “I believe that we will win” echoed through the streets during the year.
During the summer, the House v. NCAA settlement was approved, altering collegiate athletics by allowing institutions to compensate student athletes directly.
Here are The Temple News’ top 10 photos of 2025.
BRIAN GALLO / THE TEMPLE NEWS
The 50501 Movement organized a protest on June 14, Trump’s birthday, as a sign of defiance and protest of the administration. The protests took place nationwide. In Philadelphia, a crowd of nearly 100,000 people took part downtown.
COLT GUNN / THE TEMPLE NEWS
Adamn Killa visited several college campuses and towns after going viral for his “this one’s for you, you damn Killa” social media trend. He made his way to Philadelphia and stopped by Temple on Oct. 2, drawing in a large crowd that blocked 13th Street near Montgomery.
JARED TATZ / THE TEMPLE NEWS
The Philadelphia Eagles took home their second Super Bowl win on Feb. 12. Philadelphians swarmed Broad Street to celebrate their triumph.
BRIAN NELSON / THE TEMPLE NEWS
In late summer, Philadelphia welcomed a new art gallery downtown with an avant-garde parade. The parade showcased a variety of acts and performances from local art groups.
AIDAN GALLO / THE TEMPLE NEWS
The Fleshier Art Memorial held its 13th annual Día de Los Muertos festival in Queens Village. Día de Los Muertos holds great significance in the Mexican community, blending indigenous Aztec rituals with Spanish Catholicism.
AIDAN GALLO / THE TEMPLE NEWS
Popular social media content creator and student Jeb McCormick embarked on a new endeavor and tapped into the art of singing and songwriting with his new band Sound of Jeb.
AIDAN GALLO / THE TEMPLE NEWS
In late August, artist and bald enthusiast Robert Capron held an event that united the bald community in the Philadelphia area. Capron was motivated not only by his curiosity regarding the bald community in Philadelphia but also by how an event like this could shed light on the strict beauty standards that have polluted our outlook on how people chose to wear their hair –– or lack thereof.
COLT GUNN / THE TEMPLE NEWS
Among assignments, tests and jobs, students across Temple’s campus organized protests, walkouts and encampments in response to the war in Gaza and to pressure their universities to divest from companies tied to Israel, bringing the Palestinian case directly to Broad Street.
LILLIAN PRIETO / THE TEMPLE NEWS
Running back Jay Ducker transferred to Temple from Sam Houston State when former Bearkats head coach K.C. Keeler took the head coaching job on Dec. 1, 2024. In a season where the Owls finally broke free of its three-wins curse, Ducker led the Owls in rushing and ended the season with 10 touchdowns.
BRIAN NELSON / THE TEMPLE NEWS
Timothy Fontaine is a North Philadelphia sneaker seller who has been building his business for years, often from a van or pop-up setup near Main Campus. Through Temple’s Community Gateway and the Small Business Development Center, he completed a six-week business development program that taught him skills like marketing, management, and digital tools to help expand and professionalize his reselling business.