NEW YORK – Color Of Change, the nation’s largest online racial justice organization, issued the following statement in response to the federal corruption charges brought against Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams, who has declined to seek re-election this year:

 

Rashad Robinson, Executive Director of Color Of Change:
“As federal officials issue corruption charges against Seth Williams, Philadelphians have an opportunity to leave behind the misdeeds and failings of the past and, come November, elect a new District Attorney committed to community safety and justice.

 

“Seth Williams was guided by an incentive structure that rewarded self-serving, self-enriching practices, discouraging the adoption of reforms–like his now abandoned promise to stop juvenile life without parole sentences. But by organizing around criminal justice reform in the upcoming DA election, Philadelphians can shift this incentive structure to one that encourages prosecutors to be accountable to the electorate.

“Local communities must demand that candidates demonstrate clear and developed positions on how they will change racially disproportionate, ineffective, and unsafe sentencing and pretrial policies. Ahead of the primary election Color Of Change, along with a broad coalition of Philadelphia-based organizations, will be helping to facilitate this by hosting a candidate forum on April 18th and subsequently publishing the results of a candidate questionnaire.

 

“Philadelphia has the chance to forge a new vision of just what a head prosecutor can do to improve people’s lives. At a time when politicians in Washington are harkening back to discredited “law and order” policies, the city can become a beacon to the nation of the power of progressive change. Philadelphians need only seize the opportunity that they are presented with this year.”

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Color Of Change is the nation’s largest online racial justice organization. We help people respond effectively to injustice in the world around us. As a national online force driven by over one million members, we move decision-makers in corporations and government to create a more human and less hostile world for Black people in America. Visit www.colorofchange.org.