UPDATE: Protests and peaceful marches continued on Tuesday in West Philadelphia:
“When I say ‘Walter’ you say ‘Wallace’” hundreds marching peacefully down 5200 block of Pine toward 18th police district at 55th and Pine #WalterWallaceJr #blacklivesmatter pic.twitter.com/PW2jFNnYPr
— West Philly Local (@WestPhillyLocal) October 28, 2020
Earlier today, members of the Black Clergy of Philadelphia marched to the 18th police precinct after #WalterWallaceJr was shot and killed by police officers Monday night in West Philly.
Protests are continuing in the city. Follow live updates here:https://t.co/A3sFDG95qX pic.twitter.com/vA0oC9Q1eV
— The Philadelphia Inquirer (@PhillyInquirer) October 27, 2020
Hundreds of people took to West Philly streets on Monday night to protest the death of a 27-year-old Black man who was shot multiple times and killed by police on the 6100 block of Locust Street shortly before 4 p.m. yesterday.
The man, later identified as Walter Wallace Jr., was reportedly holding a knife when police arrived. He was shot outside his residence in front of his mother and many other witnesses, according to reports. His family said that he was suffering from mental illness and his mother reportedly pleaded with police not to shoot him.
Following the shooting, protests and civil unrest erupted in West Philadelphia. Around 8 p.m. a crowd started gathering outside the 18th Police District headquarters near 55th and Pine. Several officers were reportedly injured in a standoff near the building.
More protests and civil unrest were reported along 52nd street, between Market and Walnut, where a police car and a dumpster were set on fire and a female police officer, 56, was hospitalized with a broken leg after being hit by a speeding pick-up truck near 52nd and Walnut. Looting was also reported along 52nd Street and in other areas. Another incidence of unrest was reported at 40th and Chestnut where a police substation was vandalized.
Police car on fire at 52nd Street now. pic.twitter.com/7iVCoLVGPf
— Samantha Melamed (@samanthamelamed) October 27, 2020
2020: Fireworks over a dumpster fire. pic.twitter.com/8ziCNwdmwc
— Samantha Melamed (@samanthamelamed) October 27, 2020
BREAKING: Civil unrest in Philadelphia leads to looting and vandalism across the city after police fatally shoot a man armed with a knife ⬇️ https://t.co/RSInA8xnIj
— CBS Philly (@CBSPhilly) October 27, 2020
A calmer tone out here in West Philly with greater police force. Protesters are still letting police know their anger, demanding to know why less lethal force was not used on Walter Wallace Jr., who was killed this afternoon: “Y’all brought a gun to knife fight.” pic.twitter.com/g1LUvac3Vx
— Samantha Melamed (@samanthamelamed) October 27, 2020
At least 30 Philadelphia police officers have been reportedly injured and 12 were hospitalized in the civil unrest that continued into the early hours of Tuesday.
In the wake of Walter Wallace Jr.’s death, City Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (3rd District) issued a statement calling his death “a downright tragedy” and called on police to “immediately release the body camera footage of the officers involved in this incident.”
“The public deserves a full, unvarnished accounting of what took place today,” she wrote. “We must acknowledge that things did not need to play out this way. Resorting to the use of a service weapon should be the absolute last resort for any officer…”
“Had these officers employed de-escalation techniques and non-lethal weapons rather than making the split-second decision to fire their guns, this young man might still have his life tonight. Had these officers valued the life of this Black man – had they treated him as a person experiencing mental health issues, instead of a criminal – we might be spared our collective outrage at yet another injustice at the hands of police.”
“In this moment of reckoning and pain for West Philly, we need accountability, we need justice, and we need it now.”
Our whole community is mourning the loss of Walter Wallace tonight.
Say his name. https://t.co/OQd0xsoEEV
— Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (@CouncilmemberJG) October 27, 2020
October 27th, 2020 at 10:26 am
As long as Gauthier and others make excuses and blame police for doing their job, West Philly will remain an armpit of the city. Talk all you want about accountability and justice. It means nothing if people keep defending criminal activity, riot and loot, and refuse to accept responsibility for theirs and others’ actions. The man’s death was tragic. It was not an injustice and had nothing to do with the color of his skin. The outrage is misplaced.
October 27th, 2020 at 11:23 am
White Trump supporters often LIKE how police treat black people and other folks of color. The fact that BLM and Antifa are their chosen demons ought to tell you something right there. The sooner we get rid of Trump- fanning the flames of bigotry and state violence- the better. We will have to keep pushing through till the end of the year but we can make a better world.
October 27th, 2020 at 11:57 am
@ No More Color has nothing to do with it. White or Black doesn’t matter. Law and order does. BLM, Antifa, white supremacists, etc. can march and protest all they want. Seems they have a lot of free time. It would be better to get jobs and invest in society. But they are free to protest. They are not free to riot and burn. If they do they should be met with the force of the law.
October 27th, 2020 at 12:00 pm
Shooting and brick throwing do not display value for the lives of deranged men with weapons.
What is your favorite way to value the life of an approaching, deranged man with a weapon, {question mark}.
I ask as a pacifist, not a peace officer.
October 27th, 2020 at 12:14 pm
We would be better off supporting alternative crisis responders who are mental health informed. Shootings, tasings and violent take-downs are often not needed at all. This ugly “Law and Order” agenda which goes hand in hand with MAGA and white supremacy that must be overcome. Let’s be sure we get rid of Trump- he is bringing out the worst in us. After that, we can work on the City of Philadelphia, starting with the Mayor and the Police Commissioner, not to mention the FOP.
October 27th, 2020 at 12:21 pm
De-escalation techniques of all variety can be shared so we can de-escalate ourselves without the need for police.
October 27th, 2020 at 1:51 pm
to the poster above “West Philly”,
get off our message board, you russian hacker troll.
“Law and order”…barf..you’re such a parrot. Same as the way neocons wave the flag and pretend it makes you more patriotic or morally superior to real Americans.
Real Americans are for justice, along with law and order. Shooting a guy who has a knife (and isnt actually a threat to police)…..
……rah rah ‘murica, “law and order”, parrot the nazi-in-chief some more, you brainless sack.
October 27th, 2020 at 3:01 pm
What’s most interesting in the above post is the anti-Russian xenophobia. I guess “Biden 4 Prez” is a fan of the Cold War?
October 27th, 2020 at 3:22 pm
@ Biden for President – Actually N. Philly born and raised. Didn’t know you owned the message board. I’m not even sure you really support Biden. If his supporters are as obnoxious and intolerant as you are, woe to us if he wins. I don’t think you’d be so outraged over shooting a guy with a knife is your life was in danger. But it’s not so you can pontificate from the couch.
October 29th, 2020 at 12:58 pm
What is taking place in West Philly and other States is not protesting. It’s time to call it what it is. Criminals running your State, Town and Community. Thesaurus people are opportunitis and crimals. Only we the people can demand these
Crimals be held accountable.
Lori Vorwald
October 29th, 2020 at 1:13 pm
“Criminals running your State, Town and Community.”? The Devil is in the details. Which set of bosses do I most prefer to struggle against? I’ll strongly reject Team Trump because of the deadly incompetence on the Coronavirus, cultivation of the racist and violent far Right, the war on migrants and refugees, the blatant corruption, etc.
It’s preferable to struggle under centrist Democrats- despite their very real faults- than this brave new Republican Party, which is clearly flirting with Fascism…
October 29th, 2020 at 2:47 pm
Censorship check…
October 29th, 2020 at 2:51 pm
Is A.D. at the controls today?
October 30th, 2020 at 12:43 am
This situation is not about President Trump or Joe Biden. This is about a state taking control over these criminals. Just maybe if Philly would of bucked up and stoped it in the beginning Philly wouldn’t be here now. Too much permission and lack of accountability has created a situation that will not stop. Every time a group of people disagree and claim they are protesting they will be walking out of stores with merchandise they have stolen. It’s time to take the kid gloves off and demand your state and local government do their job.
Lori Vorwald
November 2nd, 2020 at 8:03 am
“Law and Order” means that blue violence is not only excused but encouraged. Same with the thievery of those in business suits, whether in government or business. Trump, McNesby and McSwain are integral to this violence.
November 2nd, 2020 at 1:59 pm
“Law and Order” means this: https://www.nytimes.com/video/us/100000007424380/police-black-lives-matter-protests.html