Frank Rizzo is sworn in as mayor, 1972, Frank Rizzo: The Last Big Man in Big City America.
The impact of the walkouts went beyond changes to the School District curriculum or policies: it impacted politics and race relations in the city. In 1972, Frank L. Rizzo was able to use the results of the walkout in his successful run for mayor of Philadelphia, gaining support and popularity by villainizing the student demonstrators and the School Board.
Vilifying Students
Rizzo’s account made him a popular law-and-order choice for voters across the city:
It’s how they told the story...we were viewed as thugs, violent youth….and those who read the Inquirer, Daily News, and the Bulletin went along with it because that’s what they wanted to hear” -Melvin Garrison, a student at the demonstration. I am a Negro school teacher and I know better than anyone just what hoodlums these so-called Black Power students actually are. Instead of coddling these young thugs and permitting them to run rough-shod over law and order, responsible Negro leaders should unite behind commissioner Rizzo who is doing his utmost to maintain racial peace and harmony in Philadelphia" - "Teacher Says Rizzo was Courageous in School Bd. Dispute", November 28th, 1967, The Philadelphia Tribune. Police Commissioner Frank L. Rizzo said last night that the Black Power movement must be destroyed. ‘No matter what demands of theirs you meet, you can never appease them,’ Rizzo said. ‘The only thing they understand is force and they have to be crushed before they destroy the community'", -"Black Power Threatens City, Rizzo Says", November 23rd, 1967, Philadelphia Evening Bulletin. |
One of Rizzo's speeches criticizing the student, "Black Power Threatens City, Rizzo Says", November 23rd, 1967, Philadelphia Evening Bulletin.
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Vilifying the School Board
Rizzo promised to have Shedd fired, and while he didn't have that political power as mayor, his supporters claimed victory when Shedd retired:
Last Thursday Dr. Shedd resigned from his $45,000‐a‐year job. His action marked a victory for Philadelphia's incoming Democratic Mayor, Frank L. Rizzo, who had pledged during his campaign to 'get rid' of Dr. Shedd if he was elected", -"School Head Out in Philadelphia", December 12th, 1971, The New York Times. Mr. Rizzo charged that Dr. Shedd was too easy on troublemaking pupils, that school discipline was low, and that, in short, pupils were not learning much of anything as a resuit [sic] of Dr. Shedd's progressive ideas", "School Head Out in Philadelphia", December 12th, 1971, The New York Times. This Rector believes the President and Vice President of the School Board and the Superintendent of Schools seriously erred in condemning the police and NOT rebuking the students who caused the trouble. Could it be that these gentlemen needed a 'scapegoat' to cover up their own ineptitude?" - W. Hamilton Aulenbach, "Cleric Critical of Dilworth for Attack on Rizzo", November 25th, 1967, The Philadelphia Tribune. |
The retirement of Dr. Mark Shedd, Schools Superintendent , "School Head Out in Philadelphia", December 12th, 1971, The New York Times.
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Support for Rizzo's Actions
Following the walkout, many citizens wrote in to Philadelphia's newspapers to display their support of Rizzo's actions.
As for Mr. Dilworth's remarks that 'these children' were beaten by club-wielding policemen- I wish to call your attention to the fact that because of 'these children' Negro neighborhoods have become as crime-ridden and unsafe to venture into as they are. . . . It is time we stopped making excuses for this type of behavior by these young thugs and treat them as they deserve to be treated" - James Thomas, "Former Officer Defends Rizzo", November 25th, 1967, The Philadelphia Tribune. |
Did they [,the School Board officials,] discipline the youths after this melee? Has there been no emphasis on GOOD CITIZENSHIP? And frankly under the circumstances what are the police expected to do? They must prevent a riot in the making or 'brutally' stop it within hour. We prove nothing by condemning the police other than our own inadequacy to handle a situation without police who MUST act according to their experience and NOT our inexperience" - W. Hamilton Aulenbach, "Cleric Critical of Dilworth for Attack on Rizzo", November 25th, 1967, The Philadelphia Tribune. |
In ordering his men to arrest the trouble-makers, Commissioner Rizzo was merely doing his job. After all the primary responsibility of police in a situation such as this is to maintain law and order" - "Reader Claims Rizzo Right, Students Wrong", November 28th, 1967, The Philadelphia Tribune. |
To Commissioner Rizzo, don't be disheartened by the criticisms of those who do not understand your difficult and trying task. There are Negroes who appreciate what you are doing" - "Teacher Says Rizzo was Courageous in School Bd. Dispute", November 28th, 1967, The Philadelphia Tribune. |
Commissioner Frank Rizzo has my vote of confidence for his forthright and courageous actions in the face of the mob violence in front of the Board of Education Building"- "Teacher Says Rizzo was Courageous in School Bd. Dispute", November 28th, 1967, The Philadelphia Tribune. |
I am convinced that Police Commissioner Frank Rizzo acted properly in ordering his men to forcibly put down what could have mushroomed into a major riot"- "Reader Claims Rizzo Right, Students Wrong", November 28th, 1967, The Philadelphia Tribune. |
A little firmness in times like these are certainly in order. My hat is off to Commission Rizzo and his men for attempting to make Philadelphia a safer place to live and work"- James Thomas, "Former Officer Defends Rizzo", November 25th, 1967, The Philadelphia Tribune.
An unintentional effect of the walkout was the amount of support that Rizzo gained from criminalizing and attacking students and the School Board. Rizzo was able to use this negative support in his favor to win a mayoral election in 1972.