Wolf Signs Disaster Emergency For Philly Ahead Of Chauvin Verdict

[lindysalsagal]

Source: Patch: Philly

Gov. Wolf has signed a Disaster Emergency for Philly, sending the PA National Guard members there ahead of a verdict in the Chauvin trial.

Max Bennett, Patch Staff Posted Mon, Apr 19, 2021 at 9:54 am ET|Updated Mon, Apr 19, 2021 at 10:31 am ET

PHILADELPHIA — Gov. Tom Wolf has signed a Proclamation of Disaster Emergency for Philadelphia, sending hundreds of Pennsylvania National Guard members to the city as it prepares for possible unrest following a verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial.

Wolf said more than 1,000 active-duty members will be sent to Philadelphia at the request of city officials.

Chauvin, a Minneapolis, Minn. police officer, is on trial for the death of George Floyd, who died after Chauvin kneeled on his neck during an arrest last May.

"This declaration allows the commonwealth to take preemptive steps to ensure the safety of our fellow Pennsylvanians," Wolf said. "The activation of the National Guard supports the current efforts in Philadelphia to protect our beloved neighbors and city."

Read more: https://patch.com/pennsylvania/doylestown/s/hixhy/wolf-signs-disaster-emergency-for-philly-ahead-of-chauvin-verdict?utm_source=alert-breakingnews&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=alert

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Damn. But this is not a "disaster" in the way it was intended in the law.

[bucolic_frolic]

1. I think this is prudent

Preemptive, which is not very usual, but you have to do what you have to do.

[peppertree]

7. Absolutely.

Because not only is the fix already very much in on this - but you can bet that right-wing groups will be sending infiltrators to cause as much damage as possible (with Faux News cameras conveniently at the scene).

That's what they did in Minneapolis last summer, as you know.

[bucolic_frolic]

10. Yeah, and it's Philly, Four Seasons Landscaping could be on call too

Calling in the cavalry.

Which Evangelicals hear as the Calvary.

Plenty of opportunity for confusion and collusion.

[peppertree]

11. Plenty of opportunity, no doubt about it

And Repugs are very good at setting up these catalyzing incidents.

Just ask Dubya.

[MyOwnPeace]

2. What's the hurry?

Why don't we just 'wait and see what happens' - you know, like DC did on January 6?

[BobTheSubgenius]

3. So. The criminal justice system works, at least ostensibly, as it was designed to work,

and the way citizens expect it to work. Suspected (not in this case, but generally) law-breakers are given a fair trial in which each side is afforded an opportunity to present its case, and a group of citizens decides the outcome.

Better prepare for riots.

[hay rick]

4. The justice system works on the presumption of responsible citizenship.

Sadly, most people, myself included, think it is prudent to prepare for a hung jury and riots. In America, ca. 2021, I think it is almost impossible to convene a jury of 12 people, in a case where a white police officer killed an unarmed and immobilized black man, and get a unanimous verdict. The people who support Trump are surely prepared to discard evidence and jury instructions in favor of white team loyalty.

I would be thrilled to be proved wrong.

[lindysalsagal]

5. So many people are invested in this outcome. I can't watch moment to moment.

There's too much possible disappointment that I can't repair. I wish I had more faith in people.

[BobTheSubgenius]

6. I fully agree that this is a very possible, if not probable, outcome.

I was shooting for "ironic" in my post.

[hamsterjill]

8. I completely agree with this.

I expect a guilty verdict. But even if that’s the case, people will take to the streets and you always have the few who start property destruction regardless of whether they agree or disagree with the verdict.

Peaceful protest is fabulous. Looting and property damage, not to mention physical harm to someone, should not be tolerated from either side of the opinion.

[Deminpenn]

9. Better to be prepared

But there could be crowds in the streets either way. Celebrations can get out of hand, too.

[quakerboy]

12. Predictable

A disaster declaration that does nothing to alleviate the actual ongoing disaster. Yay politics. Paper over all actual problems with a show of force.

If you kids dont act right in front of the teachers, your gonna catch a whuppin. I dont care if your hungry, sore, scared.. act like we are the perfect family, or your gonna get it.

[Magoo48]

13. This action signals the city's desire to violently suppress protests.

This is not prudent; it is a threat.