Black Lives Matter Demands Philadelphia District Attorney Resign Over Bribe Scandal
Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams speaks during a news conference at the district attorney's office in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. | Photo: Reuters
27 March 2017
Telesur
Unlikely groups have teamed up with BLM to call for the attorney’s resignation, including the Fraternal Order of Police.
The Philadelphia chapter of Black Lives Matter demonstrated outside of Democratic District Attorney Seth Williams’ office Monday, demanding that he resign.
Williams faces charges for taking hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes over the course of his term.
“We’re beyond the stage of asking Seth Williams to resign,” Asa Khalif, from Black Lives Matter told NBC. “We are demanding for him to leave. We plan to block the doors of the office and we plan on blocking the streets. We want to send a clear message not only to Seth Williams but all politicians that you work for us.”
Unlikely groups have teamed up with BLM to call for the attorney’s resignation, including the Fraternal Order of Police. Mayor Jim Kenney is also calling for Williams to step down after he was indicted on federal corruption charges.
"At a time when our citizens' trust in government is at an all-time low, it is disheartening to see yet another elected official give the public a reason not to trust us," said Kenney, as reported by NBC.
"That this comes at the head of our justice system is even more troubling."
While Williams pleaded not guilty to federal bribery and extortion charges Wednesday, he did admit that he took more than US$100,000 in luxury trips, gifts and cash while in office. He is accused, however, of accepting more than US$160,000 for a number of things, as well as a new home and five-star Caribbean trips.
Williams announced last month that he is not running for a third term, and said he regretted "mistakes in my personal life and in my personal financial life.”
For BLM, the resignation is of utmost importance, with Khalif explaining that"This office affects Black lives, number one. This office has done nothing but put their foot on Black and brown people and poor people.”
27 March 2017
Telesur
Unlikely groups have teamed up with BLM to call for the attorney’s resignation, including the Fraternal Order of Police.
The Philadelphia chapter of Black Lives Matter demonstrated outside of Democratic District Attorney Seth Williams’ office Monday, demanding that he resign.
Williams faces charges for taking hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes over the course of his term.
“We’re beyond the stage of asking Seth Williams to resign,” Asa Khalif, from Black Lives Matter told NBC. “We are demanding for him to leave. We plan to block the doors of the office and we plan on blocking the streets. We want to send a clear message not only to Seth Williams but all politicians that you work for us.”
Unlikely groups have teamed up with BLM to call for the attorney’s resignation, including the Fraternal Order of Police. Mayor Jim Kenney is also calling for Williams to step down after he was indicted on federal corruption charges.
"At a time when our citizens' trust in government is at an all-time low, it is disheartening to see yet another elected official give the public a reason not to trust us," said Kenney, as reported by NBC.
"That this comes at the head of our justice system is even more troubling."
While Williams pleaded not guilty to federal bribery and extortion charges Wednesday, he did admit that he took more than US$100,000 in luxury trips, gifts and cash while in office. He is accused, however, of accepting more than US$160,000 for a number of things, as well as a new home and five-star Caribbean trips.
Williams announced last month that he is not running for a third term, and said he regretted "mistakes in my personal life and in my personal financial life.”
For BLM, the resignation is of utmost importance, with Khalif explaining that"This office affects Black lives, number one. This office has done nothing but put their foot on Black and brown people and poor people.”
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