Philadelphia officials announced a citywide curfew will go into effect at 9 p.m. Wednesday — on the heels of two days of unrest over the police shooting death of a 27-year-old black man, according to reports.
The decision was announced in a message to city businesses from the Philadelphia managing director’s office, the Philadelphia Inquirer said on Twitter.
City Deputy Managing Director Michael Carroll had warned business owners in an email earlier in the day that the measure was being weighed by city officials after widespread rioting Monday and looting Tuesday over the shooting death of Walter Wallace.
“While the curfew hopefully helps to minimize disturbances I would expect the aggravation and inconvenience to you, your staff, or your patrons attempting to navigate the curfew are very likely to overshadow the benefits,” Carroll wrote in the email, the Inquirer reported.
Carroll also “strongly advised” restaurants in the city to remain closed for dinner service.
Later on Wednesday, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf signed a disaster emergency proclamation to free up state resources to help the city during what he called “this fragile time.”
The proclamation will remain in effect for 90 days.
Protesters took to the streets in the City of Brotherly Love on Monday night, hours after Wallace was shot and killed outside his West Philadelphia home — the third time police had been called there that day.
Wallace, who suffered from bipolar disorder, according to this family, was holding a knife and walking toward two officers when they fired.
At least 90 people were arrested Monday night and 30 cops were injured in violent clashes with protesters. About 1,000 people took to the streets again Tuesday, with several stores being looted.
Police said another 81 people were arrested and 23 more cops were injured during the second night of protests late Tuesday into early Wednesday, the Inquirer said.
In addition, 26 police vehicles have now been damaged — including nine on Tuesday into Wednesday — and nine ATMs “were exploded,” the outlet said.
