Republican City Committee chairman Vince Fenerty, state Rep. Martina White and former legislative candidate Aizaz Gill criticized District Attorney Larry Krasner for comments he made in an interview with City & State.
Krasner contended that, “Right-wing Republican MAGA people like crime,” because it allows them to scapegoat different groups of “marginalized” people.
Krasner said, “This is all stuff close to me, and I know exactly where we need to be with this one: loud, proud, standing up and in their faces. These are fundamentally fascists, and it will not do us any good to try to appease them. They are bullies who need to be punched in the face as hard as possible, and that is the only way that all the people around us who are so frightened will understand they can stand up, too.”
Fenerty said Krasner’s comments call his integrity into question.
“Can he be trusted to protect victims of crime who might be registered a Republican?” he said.
Fenerty suggested Krasner could be more likely to charge someone with a crime if the individual was a Republican.
“Decisions should always be made on the evidence, not your party registration,” he said.
Fenerty’s comments follow a Republican City Committee press release that criticized Krasner’s record, saying he sided with rioters and looters in 2020, refusing to prosecute those who burned businesses, ransacked stores and left others to clean up the destruction.
Krasner, the release said, helped Philadelphia earn the nickname “Killadelphia” for formerly having the highest homicide rates in the nation. The local GOP faulted Krasner for not prosecuting violations of the Uniform Firearms Act, helping lead to his impeachment in the state House of Representatives.
The release said Krasner’s support of Philadelphia’s sanctuary city policies allows pushers of fentanyl, heroin and deadly new synthetic drugs to walk free instead of being deported or prosecuted.
Meanwhile, White released the following statement:
“District Attorney Krasner’s comments, including his call for political opponents to be ‘punched in the face,’ are reprehensible and dangerous. There is no place for violent rhetoric in our public discourse, especially from someone who holds the responsibility of enforcing the law.
“It is deeply troubling that the city’s top law enforcement official would resort to language that encourages physical violence against people he disagrees with politically. This is not just inappropriate, it is reckless. We have seen the consequences of politically motivated violence across the country. Leaders should be working to calm tensions, not inflame them.
“The people of Philadelphia deserve a district attorney focused on prosecuting violent criminals, not one who spends his time making extreme political statements and stoking division. Mr. Krasner’s words do not reflect the values of this city or the responsibilities of his office.”
Here is Gill’s statement: “No district attorney should ever condone violence, let alone call for it against political opponents. But that’s what we get from Larry Krasner.
“This kind of rhetoric isn’t just irresponsible. It’s dangerous. The top law enforcement official in Philadelphia should be working to bring the city together and make our streets safer, not throwing gasoline on the fire.
“While families are dealing with record levels of violent crime, illegal guns, and fentanyl, Krasner is busy picking political fights and chasing headlines. He talks tough when it comes to his opponents, but where is that energy when it comes to actually prosecuting criminals?
“If we’re serious about turning things around in this city, it has to start with leadership that puts public safety first. Krasner has had his chance. It’s time for him to go.” ••
