Live Blog: DOJ and Police Advisory Commission Forum on Philly Police-Involved Shootings

7:49 – Albert David Pernell says his son was fatally shot in 2011. “Never hear black cops killing white kids, or white cops killing white kids.” Audience applauds.

7:43 – Woman now speaking says son was assaulted by police, has had officers come by her house in private cars to flip her off. Says she often fears Philly police more than gangs.

7:32 – Mr. Shaw of United Citizens for Peace & Justice speaks on “systemic racism in Philly police department; speaks of an officer quoted as saying some officers call themselves “Blue by day, white by night.”

Shaw: “I appreciate what you’re doing, but I know you’re here on a grant, when that grant runs out, then what happens?”

7:23 – New speaker: If Mayor Nutter were truly concerned about rampant PPD-involved shootings, why doesn’t he convene a panel to address the issue? Mayor Nutter ran saying he would fix police abuse issues, and promised there would “be casualties”. Unfortunately, Nutter kept his promise: “There were casualties, they were all black people.”

7:17 – West Philly speaker demands results of investigation into shooting of a pizza delivery man, Mr. Holland, be released when done; PPD says it will not, as it is against current policy.

7:01 – Another mother: Describes her son’s shooting by Chester police as “target practice”.

6:54 – Mother: My son was shot in back by officer Anthony Avery Jan. 2011. Talks about other murders committed by Avery.

Mother: “Why wasn’t anything done to Avery?” After first murder in 2006, maybe the two other boys (including son) would be alive.

6:30 – The Forum has heard from a representative from the USDOJ and from a research analyst with CNA Corporation.

Public comment started with testimony from Paula Peebles of the National Action Network.

Please follow us on twitter as we can update there much faster http://twitter.com/declarationphl

5:51 –  In the Council Chambers now waiting for the DOJ Collaborative Review of Officer-Involved Shootings Public Forum. Plenty of room in room 400 at City Hall

As part of a collaborative review of  Philadelphia Police Department shootings requested by Department Commissioner Charles Ramsey, the Department of Justice and the Police Advisory Commission are holding a public forum tonight to inform the community regarding the investigation. 

The Declaration will be submitting questions to be addressed at the forum, and we want everyone in the City to have an opportunity to engage this very important process as much as possible, so we will be live-blogging the event starting at 5:45 PM this evening, right here on this page, for those unable to attend. We’ll keep tweeting this link, check back for updates in just a few hours.

You can also follow our staff on twitter for live updates – Dustin Slaughter, Joshua Albert, and Kenneth Lipp, as well as the Declaration account.