[PHILADELPHIA, PA, 10/29/2020]- Protests and rioting have rocked the city of Philadelphia in the aftermath of the police shooting of Walter Wallace on October 27th. Walter Wallace, Jr. was armed with a knife and attacked police officers before he was shot, and yet the protests have turned to rioting and looting over the last two nights, leaving more than 30 police officers injured, one looter dead and hundreds arrested. The looting and rioting spread to New York and Washington, DC on the morning of October 28, 2020 and there does not appear to be an end in sight for these violent outbreaks. 

The Police Officers’ Defense Coalition, in association with the National Center for Police Defense, condemns these violent and destructive actions by members of Antifa and BLM. Peaceful protests have been part of America’s history since our beginning, but riots leading to violence and looting are unwarranted and must be quelled by the authorities. Anarchy cannot and will not be tolerated by the law enforcement community. Rioting over police officers doing their job to protect and serve cannot be overlooked. 

James Fotis, President of Police Officers’ Defense Coalition said, “Now is the time for all law-abiding community members to join together and stand with law enforcement before their streets are overtaken by those who only care about corrupting the bond that joins us together. Police Officers’ Defense Coalition and our heroic police officers know that a world without laws- and law enforcement- will become a world without hope.”

The Police Officers’ Defense Coalition is a 501(c)4 nonprofit organization that works to bridge the gap and build a movement made up of civilians, active and retired law enforcement officials, and politicians to protect the men and women in blue that serve our communities and our country. 

Police Officers’ Defense Coalition, Inc. (PODC) is a 501©4 non-profit organization. Contributions are not tax-deductible by law and are made with the understanding that PODC has complete discretion and control over the use of all donated funds. Funds will be used to assist law enforcement officers and/or to help further programs developed by PODC that will help law enforcement and the community that they protect and serve.