Difference between revisions of "Statue of Frank Rizzo (Philadelphia)"
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The '''[[wikipedia:Statue_of_Frank_Rizzo#Controversy_and_removal|Statue of Frank Rizzo]]''' (also known as Frank L. Rizzo Monument) was installed in 1999 on Thomas Paine Plaza, outside the Municipal Services Building, [[wikipedia:Philadelphia|Philadelphia]], U.S. After his death, Rizzo's supporters raised money for a statue to commemorate his tremendous influence in the city. The Statue was removed during Black Lives Matter movement in 2020.<ref>Melamed, Samantha.[https://www.inquirer.com/news/frank-rizzo-statue-george-floyd-protests-municipal-services-plaza-kenney-20200603.html The Rizzo statue disappeared early Wednesday. Philadelphia is still unpacking its legacy.] The Philadelphia Inquirer June 3, 2020. Retrieved January 22 2021.</ref> | The '''[[wikipedia:Statue_of_Frank_Rizzo#Controversy_and_removal|Statue of Frank Rizzo]]''' (also known as Frank L. Rizzo Monument) was installed in 1999 on Thomas Paine Plaza, outside the Municipal Services Building, [[wikipedia:Philadelphia|Philadelphia]], U.S. After his death, Rizzo's supporters raised money for a statue to commemorate his tremendous influence in the city. The Statue was removed during Black Lives Matter movement in 2020.<ref>Melamed, Samantha.[https://www.inquirer.com/news/frank-rizzo-statue-george-floyd-protests-municipal-services-plaza-kenney-20200603.html The Rizzo statue disappeared early Wednesday. Philadelphia is still unpacking its legacy.] The Philadelphia Inquirer June 3, 2020. Retrieved January 22 2021.</ref> | ||
| − | == Background == | + | ==Background== |
[[wikipedia:Frank_Rizzo|Frank L. Rizzo]] was a former police commissioner, then mayor, whose law-and-order tactics had come for many to symbolize racist and brutal policing in the city. He was born in 1920 and grew up in South Philadelphia. After dropped out of High School, he followed his father’s lead to the Philadelphia Police Department. He was promoted, to become deputy commissioner in 1963 and commissioner of police in 1967. | [[wikipedia:Frank_Rizzo|Frank L. Rizzo]] was a former police commissioner, then mayor, whose law-and-order tactics had come for many to symbolize racist and brutal policing in the city. He was born in 1920 and grew up in South Philadelphia. After dropped out of High School, he followed his father’s lead to the Philadelphia Police Department. He was promoted, to become deputy commissioner in 1963 and commissioner of police in 1967. | ||
During his time as a police commissioner, he ordered a lot of brutalities. He didn't hesitate to told cops to beat citizens - with fists or nightsticks. In 1970, after a series of police shootings, Rizzo ordered a raid on the Black Panthers headquarters of Philadelphia, in which six suspects were handcuffed, placed to a wall, and stripped naked. The shocking scene was documented by a news photographer. In 1971, Rizzo decided to run for mayor and he won reelection in 1975.<ref name=":0">Gambacorta,David. [https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia-frank-rizzo-police-violence-legacy-shootings-20200603.html Frank Rizzo leaves a legacy of unchecked police brutality and division in Philadelphia.] The Philadelphia Inquirer June 3, 2020. Retrieved January 22 2021.</ref> | During his time as a police commissioner, he ordered a lot of brutalities. He didn't hesitate to told cops to beat citizens - with fists or nightsticks. In 1970, after a series of police shootings, Rizzo ordered a raid on the Black Panthers headquarters of Philadelphia, in which six suspects were handcuffed, placed to a wall, and stripped naked. The shocking scene was documented by a news photographer. In 1971, Rizzo decided to run for mayor and he won reelection in 1975.<ref name=":0">Gambacorta,David. [https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia-frank-rizzo-police-violence-legacy-shootings-20200603.html Frank Rizzo leaves a legacy of unchecked police brutality and division in Philadelphia.] The Philadelphia Inquirer June 3, 2020. Retrieved January 22 2021.</ref> | ||
| − | After sending police with nightsticks to disperse the protesters of black high school students. He had the Black Panthers publicly searched, engaged in a 15-month dispute with MOVE activists, and raised taxes exponentially. The residents successfully filed a petition to remove him as a major. Rizzo then tried to change the law so he could run for election several times. He encouraged residents to “vote white,” but failed. He made later attempts at reelection, including a loss to Wilson Goode, Philly’s first black mayor, in 1983. <ref>Tafelski, Tanner. [https://hyperallergic.com/571133/amateur-night-frank-rizzo-documentary-philadelphia/ Looking Back at Philadelphia’s Notoriously Racist Mayor Frank Rizzo.] ''Hyperallergic'' June 15, 2020. Retrieved January 22 2021.</ref> | + | After sending police with nightsticks to disperse the protesters of black high school students. He had the Black Panthers publicly searched, engaged in a 15-month dispute with MOVE activists (the precursor to the police bombing a MOVE home in 1985), and raised taxes exponentially. The residents successfully filed a petition to remove him as a major. Rizzo then tried to change the law so he could run for election several times. He encouraged residents to “vote white,” but failed. He made later attempts at reelection, including a loss to Wilson Goode, Philly’s first black mayor, in 1983. <ref>Tafelski, Tanner. [https://hyperallergic.com/571133/amateur-night-frank-rizzo-documentary-philadelphia/ Looking Back at Philadelphia’s Notoriously Racist Mayor Frank Rizzo.] ''Hyperallergic'' June 15, 2020. Retrieved January 22 2021.</ref> |
[[File:Frank Rizzo Vandalism.jpg|thumb|left|Statue of Frank Rizzo during Black Lives Matter]] | [[File:Frank Rizzo Vandalism.jpg|thumb|left|Statue of Frank Rizzo during Black Lives Matter]] | ||
| − | + | ==Controversy== | |
| − | + | Due to Rizzo's legacy of brazen intolerance and racism, the statue has become a focal point in the Philadelphia protests over black deaths during the Black Lives Matter movement in June 2020. Not long after that, the City took down a memorial to a man who exploited its divisions. Mayor [[wikipedia:Jim_Kenney|Jim Kenney]] tweeted "The Frank Rizzo statue represented bigotry, hatred, and oppression for too many people, for too long. It is finally gone,"<ref>Chappell, Bill. [https://www.npr.org/2020/06/03/868848550/frank-rizzo-statue-is-removed-in-philadelphia-it-is-finally-gone-mayor-says Frank Rizzo Statue Is Removed In Philadelphia: 'It Is Finally Gone,' Mayor Says.] NPR June 3, 2020. Retrieved January 22 2021.</ref> | |
| − | |||
| − | == References == | + | ==References== |
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
[[Category: Black Racism in Statues]] | [[Category: Black Racism in Statues]] | ||
[[Category: Anti-Black Racism in Statues]] | [[Category: Anti-Black Racism in Statues]] | ||
Revision as of 17:40, 22 January 2021
The Statue of Frank Rizzo (also known as Frank L. Rizzo Monument) was installed in 1999 on Thomas Paine Plaza, outside the Municipal Services Building, Philadelphia, U.S. After his death, Rizzo's supporters raised money for a statue to commemorate his tremendous influence in the city. The Statue was removed during Black Lives Matter movement in 2020.[1]
Background
Frank L. Rizzo was a former police commissioner, then mayor, whose law-and-order tactics had come for many to symbolize racist and brutal policing in the city. He was born in 1920 and grew up in South Philadelphia. After dropped out of High School, he followed his father’s lead to the Philadelphia Police Department. He was promoted, to become deputy commissioner in 1963 and commissioner of police in 1967.
During his time as a police commissioner, he ordered a lot of brutalities. He didn't hesitate to told cops to beat citizens - with fists or nightsticks. In 1970, after a series of police shootings, Rizzo ordered a raid on the Black Panthers headquarters of Philadelphia, in which six suspects were handcuffed, placed to a wall, and stripped naked. The shocking scene was documented by a news photographer. In 1971, Rizzo decided to run for mayor and he won reelection in 1975.[2]
After sending police with nightsticks to disperse the protesters of black high school students. He had the Black Panthers publicly searched, engaged in a 15-month dispute with MOVE activists (the precursor to the police bombing a MOVE home in 1985), and raised taxes exponentially. The residents successfully filed a petition to remove him as a major. Rizzo then tried to change the law so he could run for election several times. He encouraged residents to “vote white,” but failed. He made later attempts at reelection, including a loss to Wilson Goode, Philly’s first black mayor, in 1983. [3]
Controversy
Due to Rizzo's legacy of brazen intolerance and racism, the statue has become a focal point in the Philadelphia protests over black deaths during the Black Lives Matter movement in June 2020. Not long after that, the City took down a memorial to a man who exploited its divisions. Mayor Jim Kenney tweeted "The Frank Rizzo statue represented bigotry, hatred, and oppression for too many people, for too long. It is finally gone,"[4]
References
- ↑ Melamed, Samantha.The Rizzo statue disappeared early Wednesday. Philadelphia is still unpacking its legacy. The Philadelphia Inquirer June 3, 2020. Retrieved January 22 2021.
- ↑ Gambacorta,David. Frank Rizzo leaves a legacy of unchecked police brutality and division in Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Inquirer June 3, 2020. Retrieved January 22 2021.
- ↑ Tafelski, Tanner. Looking Back at Philadelphia’s Notoriously Racist Mayor Frank Rizzo. Hyperallergic June 15, 2020. Retrieved January 22 2021.
- ↑ Chappell, Bill. Frank Rizzo Statue Is Removed In Philadelphia: 'It Is Finally Gone,' Mayor Says. NPR June 3, 2020. Retrieved January 22 2021.

