Democracy for America Backs Larry Krasner for Philadelphia District’s Attorney
Democracy for America today endorsed Larry Krasner in his campaign for Philadelphia District’s Attorney. The endorsement is part of the organization’s commitment to investing $500,000 in progressive municipal candidates this cycle. DFA has 11,391 members in Philadelphia and 62,584 across the state of Pennsylvania.
Democracy for America Chair Jim’s Dean’s statement on the national progressive organization’s endorsement:
“In Philadelphia, generations of families and neighborhoods have been destroyed by racist police practices and prosecutors who turn a blind eye to the abuses in the justice system.
"Larry Krasner is Philadelphia’s best chance to change that. He is a civil rights lawyer with a track record as impressive for successfully holding the police accountable as it is for representing activists and protesters who have been on the front lines of change. For him, opposition to the death penalty isn’t a move made out of political convenience, it’s a deeply held conviction going back decades.
"Across the country, prosecutors have for too long escaped true public accountability for their life and death responsibilities. Democracy for America’s members believe that must change, and one way we’re fighting to make that happen is by electing a thoughtful leader like Larry Krasner to be the next District Attorney of Philadelphia.” - Jim Dean, Chair of Democracy for America
Larry Krasner has been a leading civil rights attorney for over twenty years. He has filed more than 75 lawsuits against the police for corruption and physical abuse, and has represented protestors at the 2000 Republican National Convention and the 2016 Democratic National Convention, including members of Black Lives Matter. He has also worked as a Federal Public Defender.
Democracy for America has a track record of backing progressive candidates to replace inadequate prosecutors. Last year, the organization helped successfully elect Kim Foxx as Illinois’ Cook County State’s Attorney, and Aramis Ayala as the Florida’s Orange County State’s Attorney.
Democracy for America is a people-powered political action committee with 1 million members nationwide. Since its 2004 founding, DFA members have raised and contributed more than $40 million and made more than 11.1 million volunteer calls to help successfully elect 916 progressive candidates nationwide.