Joe Biden, Kamala Harris React To Fatal Police Shooting Of Walter Wallace Jr., Condemn Looting In Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Reactions continue to pour in after Philadelphia police fatally shot a Black man armed with a knife in West Philadelphia Monday. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and running mate Sen. Kamala Harris weighed in on the shooting of Walter Wallace Jr. with a joint statement Tuesday.
"Our hearts are broken for the family of Walter Wallace Jr., and for all those suffering the emotional weight of learning about another Black life in America lost. We cannot accept that in this country a mental health crisis ends in death. It makes the shock and grief and violence of yesterday's shooting that much more painful, especially for a community that has already endured so much trauma. Walter Wallace's life, like too many others, was a Black life that mattered — to his mother, to his family, to his community, to all of us.
At the same time, no amount of anger at the very real injustices in our society excuses violence. Attacking police officers and vandalizing small businesses, which are already struggling during a pandemic, does not bend the moral arc of the universe closer to justice. It hurts our fellow citizens. Looting is not a protest, it is a crime. It draws attention away from the real tragedy of a life cut short. As a nation, we are strong enough to both meet the challenges of real police reform, including implementing a national use of force standard, and to maintain peace and security in our communities. That must be our American mission. That is how we will deliver real justice. All Donald Trump does is fan the flames of division in our society. He is incapable of doing the real work to bring people together. We will.
We are all praying for the entire Wallace family, and for our nation, that we may move toward healing."
Meanwhile, the White House is "monitoring the situation closely" and is prepared to "deploy federal resources" as Philadelphia prepares for another possible night of unrest Tuesday.
Thirty police officers were injured during violent protests Monday night, including a female officer who suffered a broken leg after being hit by a car.
Wallace Jr., 27, was killed on Monday afternoon by two officers after, police say, he walked towards them and refused to drop the weapon. He was shot 14 times and neither officer was carrying a taser, officials say.
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