iradiophilly | News - Philadelphia Police Prepare For More Protest; Temple Delay Spring Semester; Mail-In Ballot Final Day

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Philadelphia Police Prepare For More Protest; Temple Delay Spring Semester; Mail-In Ballot Final Day

by: iradioal - Philadelphia, PA
started: 10/27/20 4:28 pm | updated: 10/27/20 4:28 pm

Philadelphia Police are preparing for more unrest in the city on Tuesday night, 10/27, after protests turned into riots late Monday, 10/26, and overnight. They are placing resources and increasing officer presence at key locations. The National Guard has also been mobilized and assistance from police forces in surrounding counties has been requested. 27-year-old Walter Wallace Jr. was shot and killed by police during a confrontation on the 6100 block of Locust Street in West Philadelphia on Monday afternoon. He was holding a knife and did not follow police commands to drop the weapon as he advanced toward officers. Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw says that a full investigation is underway and promises to be as transparent as possible. She could not answer many specific details at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon because the investigation had just begun. She also did not know when the body cam footage could be released. Outlaw did say, due to budget constraints, that not all officers are equipped with Tasers, including the officers involved in this incident. District Attorney Larry Krasner also announced that the DA's office is performing a full investigation.

SEE: Philadelphia Police Shoot and Kill Man With Knife, 27yo Walter Wallace, in West Philadelphia - Video
SEE: Protests Turn Into Riots in West Philadelphia After Walter Wallace Shot and Killed By Police

Protests quickly turned violent on Monday. 30 officers were injured, including one officer who suffered a broken leg after being run over by a pickup truck. 91 people were arrested for looting/burglary, assaulting officers, vandalism, etc. Several retail stores along the 52nd Street corridor were looted, many of the same businesses who suffered losses during the riots on May 31 (Foot Locker, City Blue, Family Dollar, Rainbow, Snipes). Private vehicles were vandalized. Dumpsters and a police vehicle were set on fire. Bricks and other objects were thrown at police. Several ATMs around the city were exploded. Mayor Jim Kenney said, "We are hoping we won't have any repeat of what we've seen last night and we're taking every precaution that we can to be staffed and police manned to avoid that situation that happened last night... Looting is not protests and vandalism is not protests.â€

Temple University announced that it will be delaying the start of the spring semester and canceling spring break. The spring semester for graduate and undergraduate students will begin on Tuesday, January 19. "This will give students who leave campus for the winter break at least two full weeks after New Year's Day to self-quarantine, either at home or in off-campus housing, before the start of spring classes," Executive Vice President and Provost JoAnne A. Epps said in a statement. Canceling spring break will reduce the travel normally associated with pause in classes. "Last year's experience taught us that travel during spring break led to multiple positive cases among students, both nationwide and abroad," Epps said. "This decision is an additional way of keeping our community healthy and safe."

Today, Tuesday, October 27, was the final day to request a mail-in ballot in Pennsylvania. This was also the last day to vote early in-person because that process included requesting a mail-in ballot and receiving it in-hand so you could fill it out at the location. You can still drop off a completed mail-in ballot at any election office or drop box. Also, if you already requested a mail-in ballot, but have not yet received it in the mail, you can go to an election office and request/receive a replacement ballot. At this point, election officials are recommending you drop off your ballot instead of using the mail just to be sure. Currently, ballots postmarked by November 3 can be counted if they are received by Friday, November 6 at 5 p.m. However, that could change if the Supreme Court revisits a challenge to the law. The court just shot down a similar law in Wisconsin.

"If you applied for a mail ballot, now is the time to return it so you can make sure it counts. You can return it to a county election office, you can drop it off at a designated secure drop-off location, an official dropbox," Pennsylvania Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar said. "Just make sure, no matter what, that you drop off your ballot by 8 p.m. on Election Day but don't wait."

More Information: VOTES PA