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Amid rioting and violence, Philly City Council actually passes ban on cops using tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets



In the middle of week marked by rioting, looting, and violence, Philadelphia City Council on Thursday passed a ban on police using non-lethal munitions such as tear gas, pepper spray, and rubber bullets on protesters and demonstrators.

What are the details?

The legislation is in reaction to incidents between officers and protesters following the death of George Floyd earlier this year, WPVI-TV reported, and was approved by the council's public safety committee last week.

Of course, the rioting that's gripped the city this week stems from police fatally shooting Walter Wallace Jr., a black man who approached officers while reportedly armed with a knife.

Content warning: Language:

Philadelphia Police Are Outnumbered By Hundreds Of Rioters.youtu.be

At the Philadelphia BLM riot, a cop got hit or run over by a speeding vehicle. https://t.co/S12XuEoNAi
— Andy Ngô (@Andy Ngô)1603774843.0

Still, councilmembers praised their ban.

"The ban passes at a time of demonstrations and unrest after the police shooting of Walter Wallace Jr., and days before an election where demonstrations are expected regardless of the result," council said in a press release, WPVI noted.

Councilmember Helen Gym said such a ban would help reestablish trust between the public and law enforcement, the station said: "Residential neighborhoods are not war zones. Demonstrators are not enemy combatants."

Content warning: Language:

Police run away and retreat from a mob of BLM rioters in Philadelphia. https://t.co/mcRONzebDl
— Andy Ngô (@Andy Ngô)1603779761.0

"This is a first step in working with our communities to build a new model for public safety that is driven by their needs and their vision for the future," Gym also stated in the release, WPVI noted.

City Council said Philadelphia would be the largest American city to enact such a ban. The station said it's awaiting word from Mayor Jim Kenney's office to see if he'll sign the bill.

Pushback

Roosevelt Poplar, vice president of the Fraternal Order of Police, told WPVI the whole point of "less than lethal" force for crowd control is to keep the public as safe as possible during potentially dangerous situations.

"So, basically, you're taking away non-lethal munitions, and you're leaving them with only one tool, and that's a deadly weapon tool, which is a gun," Poplar added to the station.

Anything else?

One of the first questions following Wallace's fatal shooting is why the involved officers didn't use tasers — and Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said the two officers who shot Wallace weren't carrying tasers — and many other officers don't carry them, either.

Complicating issues between cops on the ground and their superiors was a tweet from WTXF-TV reporter Steve Keeley that officers were "extremely frustrated" after Deputy Police Commissioner Melvin Singleton allegedly ordered both patrol and commanding officers to "not arrest looters just disperse them."

"By the order of CAR-2, Philadelphia Police will respond to 'priority' calls only," the alleged directive from the department obtained by Keeley said. "This means no calls for disturbance, missing person, stolen vehicle, burglary or theft will be answered."

Keeley added that some officers believe the order "leaves no deterrent to stop looting."

At least 30 officers hurt in Philadelphia riots after police kill Black manyoutu.be

Walter Wallace Jr., fatally shot by Philly police, had long criminal history; was accused of punching his mother — and a cop — in face



Walter Wallace Jr. — the black man fatally shot by Philadelphia police Monday after approaching them while reportedly armed with a knife, which led to rioting and looting — had a long criminal history.

Image source: WPVI-TV video screenshot

What are the details?

In 2013, Wallace pleaded guilty to assault and resisting arrest after punching a police officer in the face, WPVI-TV reported.

Citing court records, WCAU-TV reported that Wallace's mother in 2013 had a protective order against him — which he allegedly violated when he "threw water in her face and punched her in the face" and "threatened to return and shoot" her.

In 2017, Wallace pleaded guilty to robbery, assault, and possessing an instrument of crime after kicking down a woman's door and putting a gun to her head, WPVI said, adding that he was sentenced to 11 to 23 months in jail.

In 2019, he was charged with resisting arrest by "kicking the windows and door panels of a police patrol car," WCAU reported.

And he was arrested in March after allegedly threatening the mother of his child, telling her over the phone that "I'll shoot you and that house up," WCAU added.

What else?

Wallace also was an aspiring rapper with social media accounts filled with videos featuring guns as a central theme, WPVI said, adding that he rhymed about shooting people — including police.

Image source: WPVI-TV video screenshot

The station added, however, that he also made music videos about social causes and police injustice.

WPVI also said the courts had concerns about his mental health, noting that a judge ordered Wallace to undergo a psychiatric evaluation and treatment as far back as 2013.

His family says he was bipolar, the station reported.

"I do know that he was on a regimen of lithium and that says to me he was under a doctor's care, and that says to me officers who are trained — invisible ink — properly should notice certain things when they arrive at the scene," family attorney Shaka Johnson told WPVI.

Anything else?

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said that the shooting of Wallace, which was caught on video, "raises many questions" and announced an investigation into the incident, Newsweek said.

Image source: WPVI-TV video screenshot

"Residents have my assurance that those questions will be fully addressed by the investigation," Outlaw said. "While at the scene this evening, I heard and felt the anger of the community. Everyone involved will forever be impacted. I will be leaning on what the investigation gleans to answer the many unanswered questions that exist."

It's been asked why the two officers who shot Wallace didn't use tasers, but Outlaw noted that they were not carrying tasers, and many other officers do not carry them, either.

Philadelphia DA warns President Trump on election poll-watchers: 'Break the law here, and I've got something for you.'



The district attorney in Philadelphia issued a fiery statement warning President Donald Trump about supporting uncertified poll watchers for the election.

Larry Krasner issued the statement on Wednesday as a third night of violent protests were expected to erupt in the historic city.

"The Trump Administration's efforts to suppress votes amid a global pandemic fueled by their disregard for human life will not be tolerated in the birthplace of American democracy. Philadelphians from a diversity of political opinions believe strongly in the rule of law, in fair and free elections, and in a democratic system of government. We will not be cowed or ruled by a lawless, power-hungry despot. Some folks learned that the hard way in the 1700s," read the statement.

Krasner went on blame the president for coronavirus pandemic deaths, and then addressed the rioting over the lethal police shooting of Walter Wallace Jr., a black man.

"Philadelphians are grieving the fatal shooting by police of a Black man who appeared to be in mental health crisis. Instead of working with cities and states to improve accountability and efficacy in policing, instead of supporting and strengthening Black communities, the Trump Administration seeks to throw gasoline on a long-burning fire in order to provoke further unrest and violence ahead of an election he is terrified to lose," he said.

Krasner then said his office was pursuing serious charges against a suspect who allegedly ran over a police sergeant, seriously injuring her, during the protests.

"My office is also investigating the police shooting death of Walter Wallace, Jr., because justice demands accountability for every death at the hands of government actors — whether on the streets or in prisons or in the ICE facilities where Donald Trump is caging children," he added.

"Keep your Proud Boys, goon squads, and uncertified 'poll watchers' out of our city, Mr. President. Break the law here, and I've got something for you," Krasner concluded.

The Trump campaign had said they were prepared to sue the city over their lack of cooperation with the insertion of "poll watchers" for the election. The president tweeted about the issue in September.

Wow. Won’t let Poll Watchers & Security into Philadelphia Voting Places. There is only one reason why. Corruption!!… https://t.co/mkWsQx48e7
— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump)1601414045.0

Krasner said during an interview on Democracy Now! that the law would apply to any federal officers that the president might send to the city and if they attempted to arrest people without probable cause that he would press charges against them and litigate the issue as a crime. He went on to say that he believed Trump was a "wannabe fascist," during the interview.

Here's more about Kresner's threats:

Philly DA Larry Krasner: Trump Is a “Wannabe Fascist." I Will Charge His Agents If They Break Lawwww.youtube.com

WATCH: BlazeTV reporter details TERRIFYING moment looters surrounded and attacked in Philadelphia



Protests following the fatal police shooting of Walter Wallace Jr quickly devolved into violence, rioting, and looting in Philadelphia, and BlazeTV's Elijah Schaffer was there to document what the mainstream media won't. But while filming the carnage inside a Five Below on Tuesday, Elijah was surrounded and attacked by looters.

Elijah joined Glenn Beck on the radio program Wednesday to detail his experience and to explain why mainstream media efforts to downplay the violence just show that independent media has never been more important.

"Unfortunately, [the attack] escalated from one person to about a dozen very quickly," Elijah explained. "I'm actually really happy to be alive. Because in that same shopping center, right there, there was a 15-year-old girl who was shot, according to reports. And I heard multiple gunshots throughout the night. Another individual is reported to have heard a gunshot as well, so we try to confirm. I watched people get pummeled beyond belief."

Glenn asked Elijah to respond to mainstream media claims that conservatives are exaggerating the looting and violence in Philadelphia.

"It's so funny to hear people that aren't there try to counter what we're reporting," Elijah replied.

Watch the video below to catch more of the conversation:


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