After the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, looting and violence devastated Philadelphia's neighborhoods, from tony Rittenhouse Square to West Philadelphia's struggling 52nd Street corridor.
In reality, Rizzo was just an extreme believer in law and order: white or black, if you put Philadelphia in harm's way, he kicked you to the curb.
The city has moved the statue to a storage facility until it can determine its fate-a radical departure from last year, when the mayor's office announced plans to move the monument to Rizzo's native South Philadelphia, an historically Italian enclave.
Noting "Groups of armed individuals 'protecting' the Columbus statue," Kenney tweeted, "All vigilantism is inappropriate, and these individuals only bring more danger to themselves and the city." District Attorney Krasner added: "Prosecutors and police will uphold the law in Philly, consistent with their oaths, against criminal bullies. So save your bats for a ball game. And save your hatchets for chopping wood. We remain the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection."
This so-called affection was nowhere to be found during days of looting, worsened by what the Philadelphia Inquirer called the police department's "Critical mistakes." In fact, last week, despite the need for police as Philadelphia's crime rate spiked, the city council voted to cut the department's 2021 funding by $14 million.
South Philadelphia's Columbus statue is now concealed behind a plywood box pending the art commission's decision on its future.
The city seems more focused on the statue than on the neighborhood's rising crime-a concern even before the riots.
In reality, Rizzo was just an extreme believer in law and order: white or black, if you put Philadelphia in harm's way, he kicked you to the curb.
The city has moved the statue to a storage facility until it can determine its fate-a radical departure from last year, when the mayor's office announced plans to move the monument to Rizzo's native South Philadelphia, an historically Italian enclave.
Noting "Groups of armed individuals 'protecting' the Columbus statue," Kenney tweeted, "All vigilantism is inappropriate, and these individuals only bring more danger to themselves and the city." District Attorney Krasner added: "Prosecutors and police will uphold the law in Philly, consistent with their oaths, against criminal bullies. So save your bats for a ball game. And save your hatchets for chopping wood. We remain the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection."
This so-called affection was nowhere to be found during days of looting, worsened by what the Philadelphia Inquirer called the police department's "Critical mistakes." In fact, last week, despite the need for police as Philadelphia's crime rate spiked, the city council voted to cut the department's 2021 funding by $14 million.
South Philadelphia's Columbus statue is now concealed behind a plywood box pending the art commission's decision on its future.
The city seems more focused on the statue than on the neighborhood's rising crime-a concern even before the riots.
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