Philadelphia – October 25, 2018 —Today, Sen. Art Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia) joined fellow Democratic Leaders outside of City Hall on the SW Corner in front of the Octavius V. Catto statue for an emergency news conference.
Bomb threats were made on the lives of former Presidents Obama and Clinton, as well as former Vice President Joe Biden, Rep. Maxine Waters, and news outlet CNN and others.
“This press conference today is to serve as a call for peace,” Sen. Haywood said. “This is a call for civility to the nation.”
All Democratic elected officials were invited to attend and offer support for this serious matter. U.S. Congressman Bob Brady, U.S. Congressman Dwight Evans, Sen. Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery), and State Rep. Isabella Fitzgerald were among those to offer remarks.
“We call for the violence and hatred to end,” U.S. Congressman Dwight Evans said. “We did not choose to run for office to have our lives threatened.”
“We wholeheartedly condemn these attacks and attempts at silencing and intimidating public figures,” Sen. Hughes said. “We will not be silenced, and we will not be intimidated.”
The program was ended by Rev. Gregory Holston who “Micah 6:8: The Lord requires us to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly. We should do justice for one another and have a sense of compassion even for the person we disagree with.”
“I thank all in attendance for their support to end this hatred. Now is the time to end these acts of violence and move towards peace.”
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