More than 100 racial justice protesters gathered Tuesday night in downtown Portland for a vigil in memory of Walter Wallace Jr., a Black man shot and killed by police in Philadelphia the day before.
Candles lined the steps of the Justice Center, the site of many demonstrations during the past six months, as the crowd observed a moment of silence about 7:30 p.m. and sang, “Lift every voice and sing.”
“Say his name!” one speaker implored the crowd. “Walter Wallace!” the crowd replied, as some formed their fingers into the letter “W" to represent Wallace’s initials.
Wallace, 27, was shot after a confrontation with police in West Philadelphia on Monday. Officers responded to the area after someone had called about a man with a knife, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. The newspaper reported that police ordered Wallace to drop the weapon then shot him more than a dozen times after he failed to comply and walked towards officers.
Wallace’s mother had been trying to hold him back or shield him from police, according to reports from the scene, and she was just feet from him when he was shot. Walter Wallace Sr., Wallace’s father, said his son suffered from mental illness.
“Why didn’t they use a Taser?” the elder Wallace asked the Inquirer. “His mother was trying to defuse the situation. He has mental issues.”
On Monday night, protests in the city turned into vandalism and looting. More than two dozen police officers were injured.
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw, who formerly served as police chief in Portland, said she understood the anger rippling through the community but urged calm while the incident is being investigated.
“There are many questions that demand answers,” Outlaw said, according to the Philly Voice. “Residents have my assurance that those questions will be fully addressed by the investigation. While at the scene last night, the anger and sadness of the community was not lost upon me. Everyone involved, including the officers, will forever be impacted by this tragedy.”
-- Kale Williams; kwilliams@oregonian.com; 503-294-4048; @sfkale
"gather" - Google News
October 28, 2020 at 11:19AM
https://ift.tt/35DMH05
Protesters gather for vigil in Portland after police kill Black man in Philadelphia - OregonLive
"gather" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2Sqdbwp
https://ift.tt/2Yjhqxs
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Protesters gather for vigil in Portland after police kill Black man in Philadelphia - OregonLive"
Post a Comment