Philadelphia lifts curfew implemented over civil unrest after police shooting of Black man

After Philadelphia’s mayor imposed a nighttime curfew on Wednesday evening over the civil unrest followed by the police killing of Black man Walter Wallace, he on Thursday said that the restrictions would be not be implemented for a second night. 

“There will not be a citywide curfew this evening,” Mayor Jim Kenney said but called on residents to stay home except in case of emergency. 

“However, we encourage residents to remain home, unless travel is necessary.”

Philadelphia has been witnessing citywide civil unrest since Monday triggered by the police shooting of 27-year-old Wallace, which was captured on video posted on social media. 

Thousands of people had taken to the streets of the largest city of Pennsylvania, with looting and violence breaking out. A police spokesperson said that 57 officers have been injured, with one being serious. The police have arrested around 210 persons in the two days of unrest. 

Police shot Wallace, who was carrying a knife, after he refused to drop the weapon as his mother tried to restrain him. 

A lawyer for Wallace’s family, Shaka Johnson, said he was bipolar and the call to emergency services was for an ambulance. Johnson said that police had fired 14 times when only once could have diffused the danger.