Clarke and Kenney to tour North Philly side by side

City Council President Darrell L. Clarke will take a very public walk through North Philadelphia with former City Councilman James F. Kenney on Saturday in an event that nobody is calling an endorsement.

But in terms of politics, the timing for their afternoon stroll is striking: just two days after the "Philly Is Baltimore" march and 17 days before the Democratic primary for mayor.

The two will meet with community leaders, Kenney's campaign announced Friday.

Although that's not an official endorsement, for Kenney it's the next best thing.

"Jim is committed to moving every neighborhood forward, and that requires having a firsthand understanding of the challenges those communities face," Kenney spokeswoman Lauren Hitt said. "He appreciates that Council President Clarke is giving him another opportunity to meet with North Philadelphians."

Clarke played a pivotal role in Kenney's decision to run for mayor.

A group of politically active labor unions had been interested in Clarke's running for mayor. He ruled that out in mid-January.

Kenney resigned from Council 17 days later to run for mayor. The unions that had courted Clarke went for Kenney.

Clarke praised Kenney on his last day in Council, urging him to make a farewell speech from the president's ornate rostrum.

"After almost a quarter-century of service on City Council, Jim leaves quite a mark," Clarke said. "The theme of his life's work - equality for all, especially for those too often ignored by society - can be found in law enforcement, immigration, and LGBT policies on Philadelphia's books today."

Kenney had been scheduled to appear with Clarke at a North Philadelphia neighborhood cleanup in April, but it was postponed. Saturday's walk is likely to be considerably more charged with emotion.

Hundreds of protesters spent hours Thursday on the city's streets in the "Philly Is Baltimore" march, drawing attention to police killings including the death of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old African American man who died of a spinal injury sustained when Baltimore police took him into custody April 12.

Thursday's march was mostly peaceful, unlike the rioting in Baltimore on Monday.

Six Baltimore police officers were arrested Friday in Gray's death. One was charged with second-degree murder, the others with involuntary manslaughter.

215-854-5973 @byChrisBrennan