Heard in the Hall

Nutter doesn't condone vigilante justice, but he doesn't condemn it either

Philadelphia City Hall and political coverage from the Philadelphia Inquirer City Hall bureau.

69 comments

Nutter doesn't condone vigilante justice, but he doesn't condemn it either

POSTED: Wednesday, June 3, 2009, 3:01 PM

Patrick Kerkstra

Mayor Nutter today refused to condemn last night's apparent case of vigilante justice, where Kensington residents seized and beat a man wanted by police in connection with the rape of an 11-year-old girl.

"I do not generally condone what someone might consider vigilantism out in our streets, but it’s indicative of the anger and the compassion that many of our citizens have," Nutter said. He went on to call the episode a "demonstration" of the fact "that Philadelphians care passionately about this city, about our quality of life and certainly about our children."

"I think we need to maintain our primary focus on the young girl who was viciously assaulted. There is no place in this city for that kind of behavior and our thoughts and prayers should remain focused on her and her family," Nutter said.

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69 comments

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Comments (69)

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:31 PM, 06/03/2009

Vigilantism is the ONLY good thing in this city.. keep it up. These thugs need to fear something.

— Nezhy

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:31 PM, 06/03/2009

They got the bad guy. Get over it! The "no snitch" crowd is so ashamed that they are no saying "what if he's innocent?" If every criminal thought they would get this treatment, the world will be a better place.

— SayHello2MyLittleFriend

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0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:36 PM, 06/03/2009

Bring back Rizzo's police force and let them help give out the beatings too. I heard this guy had on the same shorts that had blood on them. Let this guy walk the streets again for round 2.

— Dvs Mind

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0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:37 PM, 06/03/2009

Nutter was smart to not condemn the actions of the "Angry Mob". That title cracks me up. The dude wouldn't have made it to court had that girls father got to him first. Nutter can't condemn it and expect to make any headway at all in breaking through to the public to help catch, report and aid investigations in any way and break the "No snitch" attitude that is killing this city. Nutter finally did something right.

— Protected

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0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:39 PM, 06/03/2009

What's going to happen to this child mother. Why was this child taking another child to DAYCARE.

— PhillyMomof2

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:43 PM, 06/03/2009

What I read from Clark was more to the affect of "What if he is the wrong man?" I don't think its necessary to say "wait until your 11-year old is raped" when he (or she) was only making a very valid point. I don't care if this guy got knocked around personally, if he indeed is the monster that did this...

— btwilson

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:45 PM, 06/03/2009

This piece of filth has a long arrest record and should NOT be roaming the streets. Citizens are sick of these thugs loose & wandering around so, in this case, they took matters into their own hands. Can't say that I feel bad about it.

— america

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:47 PM, 06/03/2009

i have to ask - where is all the vigilante justice when someone is shot, someone sells drugs, someone robs, someone murders...the no snitching rule is still in effect...the crowd could have called the police- could have held him...I am not saying that he did not get what he ultimely deserved...but those other crimes are killing communities too

— gogglespaisano