WASHINGTON - APRIL 18: Sen. Bob Casey, Jr., D-Pa., leaves the Capitol after a vote on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Indivisible Philadelphia describes itself as a "grassroots organization of volunteers determined to advance a progressive agenda by resisting corruption, authoritarianism, and inequality in our governmental institutions." The group has also repeatedly advocated for police departments to be defunded, most notably in 2020 when defund the police and Black Lives Matter protests and riots unfolded in cities from coast to coast.
"We won’t stop until they #DefundThePolice," the group’s website reads in a June 25, 2020 post titled, "Make Your Demand!"
"When we said #DefundThePolice we meant fewer officers on the street terrorizing Black and Brown residents. We meant moving away from the racist system of criminalization and penal punishment, and moving toward community-led public safety methods and programs," the post continued, which came following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis that year.
When reached for comment Wednesday, the group’s leader told Fox News Digital that police should be funded for "policing work," while other funds should be directed to support social workers and health officials to handle non-policing issues in communities.
"Our position has always been that police should be funded to do policing work. And that for other kinds of problems in the community, adequate funding should be provided for healthcare professionals, social workers, and mental health professionals as appropriate," Indivisible Philadelphia group leader Vicki Miller said.
Eiserman continued during the press conference that Casey’s policies in office are more in line with Indivisible Philadelphia than with Pennsylvania voters.
"We all know [Philadelphia District Attorney] Larry Krasner progressive approach to letting criminals back on the street isn't working. And yet Bob Casey supports Soros-funded prosecutors in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, who have led crime get completely out of control. Casey voted against the $300 million to anti-narcotics and opioid activities carried out by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. He voted against Kate's Law twice, which would have set a mandatory imprisonment minimum for deported felons who illegally reenter the US," he said.
PHILADELPHIA REACHED 500 HOMICIDES AS GUN VIOLENCE CONTINUES TO PLAGUE CITY STREETS
MINNESOTA, USA - MAY 28: A protestor stands next to a burning car holding a sign in support of the Black Lives Matter movement on Thursday, May 28, 2020, during the third day of protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Floyd died in police custody in Minneapolis on Monday night, after an officer held his knee into Floyd's neck for several minutes. (Photo by Steel Brooks/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) (Anadolu Agency / Getty Contributor)
PHILADELPHIA REACHES 1,000 CARJACKINGS FOR FIRST TIME EVER
As of January, Philly was short more than 800 officers, while Pittsburgh was short roughly 110 offices as of last month, local news reports show.
PITTSBURGH, PA - MAY 17: Pennsylvania Republican Senate candidate Dave McCormick greets supporters at the Indigo Hotel during a primary election night event on May 17, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)
Casey is expected to face off against McCormick following the state's primaries. McCormick is an Army combat veteran and former CEO of hedge fund Bridgewater Associates, who served as the Commerce Department's Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security as well as Under Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs under former President George W. Bush’s administration.
A recent Emerson College Polling/The Hill survey found McCormick is closing in on Casey, at 41% support to Casey's 45%.
McCormick has received the support of 47 Pennsylvania sheriffs, with Eiserman on Wednesday reiterating that police are backing the Republican in his campaign to unseat Casey.
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"It's no surprise that 47 Pennsylvania sheriffs have already endorsed Dave to be our next U.S. senator. Delaware County FOP Lodge 27 is proud to support Dave McCormick in his run to replace Bob Casey as our senator."
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