In this monologue, the speaker (identified as Dennis Prager) discusses the fatal police shooting of 27‑year‑old Walter Wallace in West Philadelphia, which sparked extensive looting, arson, and violence. He describes Wallace’s confrontation with police, the subsequent riots that damaged businesses and injured officers, and recounts his personal memory of past Philadelphia unrest. The speaker argues that riots are not driven by specific events but by bored, aimless individuals lacking conscience or moral guidance. He harshly criticizes Philadelphia officials—District Attorney Larry Krasner, Mayor Jim Kenney, and Police Chief Danielle Outlaw— accusing them of soft or supportive stances toward rioters and of failing to condemn the disorder. The commentary also attacks the local media, citing the Philadelphia Inquirer’s framing of the shooting as part of a long history of brutality, and labels the media as an “enemy of the people.” The piece concludes with a typical PragerU sign‑off, reinforcing the speaker’s partisan, polemical perspective.
Chapters
Philadelphia. The fatal police shooting of 27-year-old Walter Wallace from City Journal in West Philadelphia has set off another round of mass looting, arson, and violence. Wallace, who had a long criminal history and evident mental problems, was confronted by two police officers who ordered him repeatedly to put down the knife that he was wielding. Wallace refused to drop the knife, charged the officers, and was shot multiple times. The shooting sparked looting and vandalism in and around West Philadelphia's 52nd Street corridor, where the 18th District Police District is— where the 18th District Police District is located. Incidentally, I have very vivid memories of arriving to give a speech in Philadelphia on the night of the Philadelphia Phillies winning the World Series. And we could not travel directly to our hotel in downtown Philadelphia because of all the rioting that was taking place. So Philadelphia has a tradition of riots that are caused by all sorts of things. And the primary source is— has nothing to do with events. Events are excuses to riot. The people who riot are bored, aimless, and they have no conscience that you and I can relate to. They probably have no father. They certainly have no Ten Commandments. Just thought I'd throw that out. That police cars are now routinely burned is a crisis, a serious crisis in American life. The West Philadelphia riots accelerated into a fever pitch, resulting in injuries to 30 police officers and necessitating the hospitalization of 12 others. Officers managed to arrest 30 people as the riots spread throughout West Philadelphia, where ATMs were destroyed and businesses looted, including a Rite Aid, several clothing stores, and a restaurant. Newsweek reported that over 1,000 people ransacked and looted stores like Walmart and Foot Locker in the Port Richmond section of the city. District Attorney Larry Krasner. Larry Krasner is a bad human being. He seeks the destruction of Philadelphia, and he is nevertheless the district attorney. He embodies my view of the left that I've had all of my life. The Achilles heel of the left is evil. They do not fight evil. Instead, they fight good. Those who do not fight evil will fight good. That's a takeoff on the Talmudic dictum that those who are nice to the cruel will be cruel to the nice. That is Larry Krasner's motto. I am nice to the cruel and I am cruel to the nice. But he was elected by you in Philadelphia. Philadelphia Police Chief Danielle Outlaw promised a full investigation into the looting. Krasner praised peaceful demonstrations but said nothing specific about the mayhem and violence. Mayor Jim Kenney, after a lengthy statement promising to investigate the police officers involved in the shooting, later added a much softer postscript. Directed at the rioters. Quote, "Vandalism and looting is not an acceptable face of First Amendment expression." That is one serious condemnation. I think these rioters, when they heard that, they went, "You know, that's a very good point. Now I'm gonna really have to ruminate on that." But he did not condemn the disorder or promise to stop it. On the second day of rioting, Outlaw— that's the police chief, Daniel Outlaw— related, I have directed the Officer Involved Shooting Investigation Unit to begin its investigation. While at the scene this evening, I heard and felt the anger of the community. Everyone involved will forever be impacted. I also plan to join the mayor in meeting with members of the community and members of Wallace's family. There you go. That's, that's a statement of support of the rioters, is it not? Am I, am I in any way distorting the message? Outlaw statement contained no mention of the community suffering the ill effects of smashed up businesses and boarded up banks. The Inquirer— that's the Philadelphia Inquirer— declared that Wallace's killing was part of a, quote, 190 years of brutality. Against black people in Philadelphia. There's your media for you, folks. President described the media as an enemy of the state— of the people, sorry. That is right, correct. Enemy of the people. 1-800-PRAGER-776.
