City of Philadelphia - File #: 220015

• File #: 220015
• Version: 0
• Type: Resolution
• Status: ADOPTED
• File created: 1/20/2022
• In control: CITY COUNCIL
• Final action: 1/27/2022
• Title: Honoring and celebrating Philadelphia's Living Legends: Leon A. Williams, Esq., Michael Coard, Esq., Rasheedah Phillips, Esq., George Burrell, Esq., and Keir Bradford-Grey, Esq., who are all respected and distinguished leaders in the field of law, as part of the commemoration of Black History Month.
• Sponsors: Councilmember Jones, Councilmember Gauthier, Councilmember Brooks, Councilmember Gym, Councilmember Squilla, Councilmember Green, Councilmember Thomas, Councilmember Gilmore Richardson, Councilmember Parker, Councilmember Quiñones Sánchez, Councilmember Johnson, Councilmember Bass, Councilmember Domb

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result	Tally
1/27/2022	0	CITY COUNCIL	ADOPTED
1/20/2022	0	CITY COUNCIL	Introduced and Ordered Placed On Next Week's Final Passage Calendar

Title
Honoring and celebrating Philadelphia's Living Legends: Leon A. Williams, Esq., Michael Coard, Esq., Rasheedah Phillips, Esq., George Burrell, Esq., and Keir Bradford-Grey, Esq., who are all respected and distinguished leaders in the field of law, as part of the commemoration of Black History Month.

Body
WHEREAS, Leon A. Williams, Esq. is an attorney and activist who has inspired countless individuals throughout his career. Born and raised in North Philadelphia, Williams graduated from Murrell Dobbins High School in 1966. Williams was drafted into military service during the Vietnam War in 1968. Upon completion of his military service, Williams enrolled at Community College of Philadelphia where he was introduced to activism and learned how to organize around issues of importance to the African American community. He then transferred to Temple University and earned a Bachelor of Science in Education and a master's degree in Psychoeducational Processes, before setting his sights on law school. After graduating from Delaware Law School at Widener University in 1982, Williams briefly worked for the Public Defender's Office before starting his own solo practice. Being concerned with Black men being gunned down by police and the police not being held accountable for their actions, he researched an underutilized law that allows citizens to bypass the District Attorney's office and file a private criminal complaint seeking an arrest warrant. Williams filed a private criminal complaint against an FBI agent and an additional complaint against two state parole agents for the killing of unarmed Black men. One of those complaints was appealed all the way to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Williams pursued the Office of District Attorney of Philadelphia, twice in 1997 and 2001. His candidacy was monumental as he campaigned as an Independent working to reform police corruption and prosecutorial discretion. His advocacy and dedication paved the way for independent ca...