November 2, 2020

As the Center for Nonviolence and Social Justice and Healing Hurt People, we firmly stand against the police violence which took the life of Walter Wallace Jr. in Philadelphia.

We mourn together with the family and the community who have suffered deep loss and trauma.

We detest and stand against acts of lethal violence imposed upon the Black community and stand in solidarity against police brutality, against racial injustice, and against inequities in our communities of color.

We are especially outraged at the lack of willingness and capacity for the police to address mental health crises using non-lethal means. We call on the leaders of the city and community to come together to:

• End the use of lethal violence against Black and Brown people in Philadelphia
• Immediately convene leaders in public health and behavioral health to implement an anti-racist crisis intervention strategy, which addresses the unique needs of people affected by mental illness and trauma without the use of violence.

John A. Rich, MD, MPH
Co-Director, Center for Nonviolence & Social Justice

Ted Corbin, MD, MPP
Co-Director, Center for Nonviolence and Social Justice

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