The Philadelphia Tribune, Brian Saunder, TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER, April 19, 2022
State Sen. Art Haywood tried to reach out to Mayor Jim Kenney multiple times to discuss a plan to mitigate Philadelphia’s gun violence with no response in 2021. Finally, after sending an email and posting to his social media platforms addressing the mayor, Haywood received a reply, but not much was done.
Because of the lack of access Haywood has gotten from Kenney, he said he knew it was time to go beyond news conferences and social media to meet his demands, thus staging a City Hall sit-in in front of the mayor’s office Monday.
“So that’s why we reached the conclusion that a sit-in would help make it clear why we need to change what we’re doing by the city needs to change what it’s doing to prevent gun violence,” Haywood said.
Haywood’s primary demand for the Kenney administration is to create a decision-making gun violence committee that would meet weekly. That committee would include:
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner
Pennsylvania’s Office of Attorney General
U.S. Attorney’s Office
Philadelphia’s Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability
Services
Philadelphia’s Department of Human Services
Philadelphia Works Inc.
Haywood said he has had conversations with Outlaw, Krasner, and Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, among other city and state leaders, about his plans.
“I would say there’s a lot of support for my plan. I think the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office is interested,” Haywood said. “Let me put it like this — no one has said ‘no’ to what I’m proposing directly. I haven’t had a conversation with the mayor. But it’s one thing for nobody saying ‘no.’ It’s another thing for folks to say ‘yes.’”
Haywood said Monday was just the beginning of his sit-ins, saying, “We intend to be there until demands are met.”
Six other participants were sitting with Haywood, including Taleah Taylor, the City of Dreams Coalition founder, and the Rev. Kent Matthies, minister at the Unitarian Society of Germantown.
“We all have to come together to end this violence and trauma and let our city heal,” Taylor said. “The mayor is able to push a button and get it done. Mayor Kenney, we need action now, and we are holding you accountable.”
Last week, Philadelphia had 24 shootings over 24 hours starting Wednesday afternoon. So far, there have been 141 homicides and 50 non-fatal shootings this year.
“People of faith and good will all around this city know that it’s past time to take action,” Matthies said. “We have to demand better coordination between all parties of the city (nonprofit, faith communities, and businesses) to end gun violence.”
