Philly activists demand: Take ‘Racist Rizzo’ statue down

racist-rizzo-birthday-bash-20161023racist-rizzo-birthday-bash-20161023Around 40 people descended on the Frank Rizzo statue in Philadelphia on Oct. 23 on what would have been Rizzo’s 96th birthday. The crowd — organized by the Philly Coalition for R.E.A.L. Justice (REAL = Racial, Economic And Legal) — threw a mock party for the former police commissioner and mayor. The bash was highlighted by activists placing a shirt on the statue that read, “Happy birthday, Frank ‘the racist’ Rizzo.”

Rizzo was Philadelphia police commissioner from 1968 to 1971 and mayor from 1972 to 1980. In both roles, Rizzo targeted Black activists, including the Black Panther Party and MOVE, with harassment, beatings and arrests. A Pulitzer-Prize-winning expose by the Philadelphia Inquirer exposed that rampant police brutality was covered up under the Rizzo administrations.

His statue has been the subject of intense criticism. Many take objection to this homage to a man whose bias against the African, Latinx and LGBTQ communities is well documented. A petition to remove the statue has been created by the Philly Coalition for R.E.A.L. Justice: campaigns.organizefor.org/petitions/frank-rizzo-down

Rufus Farmer

Share
Published by
Rufus Farmer
Tags: Rizzo

Recent Posts

Musk/Trump war on trans people, workers of color includes veterans

New York City The author is a transgender veteran, retired from the Veterans Administration. Virginia…

March 14, 2025

Sit-ins target Starbucks

Starbucks Workers United is keeping the pressure on the company to agree to a decent…

March 14, 2025

Cleveland: Yet another death in Cuyahoga County Jail

The following statement was issued March 5, 2025, by the Cleveland-based Cuyahoga County Jail Coalition.…

March 14, 2025

On the picket line

Tennessee gig drivers Gig drivers in Tennessee voted to unionize last August. They formed the…

March 14, 2025

Airport security: Musk’s chainsaw clashes with union steel

The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Transportation Security Administration, announced March 7 that…

March 14, 2025

Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine: A salute to Martyrs’ Day

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine’s statement “Keep going on the path toward…

March 13, 2025