Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden said Wednesday that there’s no excuse for the looting and violence that has broken out in Philadelphia this week following the fatal shooting of a Black man by police.
“There is no excuse whatsoever for the looting and the violence — none whatsoever,” Mr. Biden told reporters after voting in Delaware with his wife Jill.
He said protesting is “totally legitimate” and “reasonable.”
“As the victim’s father said — do not do this,” he said. “You’re not helping my son.”
Mr. Biden noted that he plans to set up a commission on policing changes in the country.
“There’s no excuse for the looting,” he said.
The White House said Wednesday it was standing ready to deploy federal resources, if necessary, to quell the rioting and looting that has taken place in Philadelphia the past few nights.
The violence escalated after Walter Wallace Jr., a Black man, was fatally shot by police on Monday while holding a knife.
Officers had been dispatched after a report about a man with a weapon in West Philadelphia.
Wallace’s family said he suffers from bipolar disorder and was experiencing a mental health crisis during the confrontation.
President Trump said on Wednesday that Mr. Biden should be more forceful in condemning the violence. “This is a group that he supports,” Mr. Trump said, apparently referring to Black Lives Matter.
“He doesn’t want to condemn them. You have to be strong. You have to condemn. You can’t have chaos like that. The problem with Joe, Joe’s all talk and no action. You can’t let that happen to a wonderful place like Philadelphia.”
Mr. Trump said the problem also stems from “a Democrat-run state, and a Democrat-run city.”
“If asked to go in and help, we’ll do that,” the president said. “People are breaking into stores and walking out with washing machines… the police were told to stand back. We’re watching that very closely. We’re waiting for a call.”
Mr. Biden said later that he watched Mr. Trump on TV saying that he wasn’t sufficiently condemning the violence.
Then the network “ran the tape of my just having spoken… saying I condemn the violence,” the former vice president said at a fundraiser.
“We spend more time shouting and listening and some wonder, you know, if our hearts have turned to stone out there,” Mr. Biden said. “I refuse to believe it.”
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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