Hundreds of protestors took to the streets of Philadelphia since Monday to protest the killing of a Black man by the police officers. Anika Khan reports.
On Monday, the local police opened fire on a black man named Wallace Jr. The 27-year-old father of eight children was suffering from mental illness. The police in charge reported that they had to shoot him after he refused to drop the knife he was holding.
Wallace’s pregnant wife informed that his husband was suffering from bipolar disorder. When they called the ambulance to help them deal with his mental outrage, two police arrived at their residence and shot him instead.
Since the incident, thousands of people took to the streets across several states in the USA. The Marches continued peacefully on Tuesday but were soon confronted by officers in riot gears who arrived in squad cars and shoved the protestors. They used batons after claiming to be attacked by the demonstrators.
Later on, President Donald Trump stated that he stood with the heroes of the law enforcement of Philadelphia. He further claimed that Biden supporters were backing up the riots.
On Tuesday, Joe Biden showed condolences and said ,” the shock and grief and violence of yesterday’s shooting was much more painful, especially for a community that has already endured so much trauma.”
A country where a mental health crisis that ends in death is not acceptable. Serious reformations need to take place including the change in the Presidency.
