Philadelphia was put under a curfew on Friday for the second time this week over the civil unrest in the city after the police shooting of Black man, Walter Wallace. National Guard troops have been deployed in the largest city of Pennsylvania. The city mayor had uplifted the nighttime curfew on Thursday a day it was first imposed on Wednesday.

Since Monday, when state police shot dead 27-year-old Wallace that was captured on video posted on social media, the city has witnessed protests, looting, and clashes with officials. The curfew will be in effect from 9 pm to 6 pm. 

The city authorities on Twitter said, “During this time, people may leave their homes only to go to work, seek medical or emergency assistance, or drop off a mail-in ballot.”

In pictures | Days before elections, Police killing of Black man creates unrest in Philadelphia

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said that the National Guard troops will be sent to “critical government buildings or other infrastructure and may be sent to other key areas like commercial corridors” on Twitter.

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. 

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The two police officers, whose names have not been released, have been suspended and an investigation is ongoing.

The United States has witnessed widespread demonstrations, sometimes-violent protests against racism and police reforms, which first broke out after the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota in May. Floyd died on May 25 after a police officer was filmed kneeling on his neck until he went limp.   

Wallace’s death and the subsequent demonstrations and unrest have reignited a political clash between Republicans and Democrats days before the election.

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Pennsylvania is a key battleground state in the race between President Donald Trump and his Democratic challenger Joe Biden.