Other speakers included previously incarcerated individuals who credited Krasner’s administration with securing their release after reviewing their convictions, such as Termaine Hicks, who served 19 years in prison before his conviction was vacated in 2020. He described Krasner as someone willing to challenge a broken system.
“Krasner’s doing the right thing,” Hicks said. “He’s letting the right men and women out, those who are wrongfully incarcerated and innocent.”
Eric Riddick, who served three decades incarcerated before being exonerated, said supporters should view the district attorney as representing broader criminal justice reform rather than a single individual.
Eric Riddick, who was exonerated after serving 29 years in prison, speaks at a rally in defense of embattled DA Larry Krasner at Salt and Light Church in Kingsessing. (Carmen Russell-Sluchansky)
“Krasner represents an idea that’s in season, called justice,” Riddick said. “Any time that people make ground to bring the idea of justice back in season, injustice is always behind the scenes trying to plan their comeback.”
Other speakers tied the controversy surrounding the district attorney to broader issues of racial justice, policing and incarceration.
Dr. Bill McKinney of the New Kensington Community Development Corporation said the Supreme Court decision reflected a larger pattern of state and federal actions directed at Philadelphia. Therapist Jacqui Johnson argued that justice requires repairing harm rather than focusing solely on punishment.
Yale University student Cayla Waddington said she worries recent developments send discouraging messages to young people while she is trying to encourage her peers to engage in the electoral process.
“I’m noticing it’s getting harder and harder for young people, people my age to … justify the fights,” Waddington said. “When we look at the city’s legacy and it feels like we’re fighting the same battles our grandparents and great-grandparents fought.”
Although Krasner had been listed as an invited speaker, he did not address the rally. His office did not give a reason. Instead, participants framed the event as a community response to what they described as efforts by state courts and political opponents to undermine Philadelphia’s elected prosecutor.
“We are here as a community to say what they’re doing affects us,” O’Rourke said when reporters asked about Krasner’s absence. “This is wrong. The decision that’s come down is impactful and we want to make sure that we’re exercising our personal right to say that we disagree and we’re going to continue to fight.”