In the 90’s we used to sit and wonder when Philadelphia would finally riot and burn itself to the ground. Having spent 4th of July at Love Park many summers and having experienced greek week on South Street and reading the history of “the city of brotherly love”, I know this great city is volatile.
The graffiti on the walls used to say Philly would burn if and when Mumia Abu-Jamal was executed. Well, he’s still alive in prison but Philly hasn’t got any better since the days of fascist rule under Mayor Frank Rizzo in the 70s, who once said “The streets are safe in Philadelphia — it’s only the people that make them unsafe.” Rizzo brought unapologetic corruption to the Philly police and wrapped it up in right-wing politics.
We still see the effects today, Philadelphia is now Killadelphia, just one more beating shy of being a police state (city). Yesterday video tape from a news copter captured the reality of life on the streets in Killadelphia.
The tape shows a car pulling over after being chased and surrounded by police vehicles. Suspects are pulled from the car, and it appears that some of the suspects were uncooperative. It looks as though officers restrained the suspects and then some started to kick the suspects.
Philadelphia police commissioner Charles Ramsey:
“On the surface it certainly does not look good in terms of the amount of force that was used. But we don’t want to rush to judgment. We want to look at the video. And I think it’s important to remember that these individuals had been observed involved at a triple shooting at the time. There is also a lot of heightened emotions since Sgt. Liczbinski was murdered on the streets just Saturday.”
Thanks to Vern Laird for the tip.
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