BREAKING: Pennsylvania governor calls violent Philadelphia riots ‘peaceful protests’

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf told press that he hopes things in the city of Philadelphia don't "escalate into anything other than the peaceful protests that this kind of thing brings out."

Rioting, looting, and violence accompanied the protests in Philadelphia since Monday night in the wake of the police shooting of Walter Wallace. Thirty police officers were injured by protestors on Monday, with one sergeant being hit by a truck and suffering a broken leg.

"Everyone is really sad by the death of the victim," Wolf told press. "And I think I share in mourning with the family. Anytime that happens is a tragedy, for whatever reason. And I think we need to make sure that we follow up, find out what happened. I and my staff have been in constant communication since last night with the folks in Philadelphia. And the hope is that doesn't escalate into anything other than the peaceful protests that this kind of thing brings out."

Despite claiming the protests to be peaceful, Governor Wolf deployed the National Guard. According to Lt. Col. Keith Hickox, "the Pennsylvania National Guard is mobilizing several hundred members in support of the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management and assist local agencies in protecting life, property and the right to peacefully assemble and protest" at the direction of the Governor.

Tuesday night saw 11 shootings in Philadelphia, among them an 18-year-old man and a 15-year-old girl, both of whom are in stable condition at a local hospital.

Protests began Monday in response to the killing of Walter Wallace, a 27-year-old resident of West Philadelphia. Police were called by Wallace's family, and when police arrived on the scene they found him with a knife. Police shot Wallace after he declined to put down the knife. He died in the hospital later that evening.

Philadelphia's Office of Emergency Management sent a warning to residents in a variety of neighbourhoods reading “[the] Philadelphia Police Department is requesting that all residents in the 12, 16, 18, 19, 24, 25, and 26th Districts remain indoors except when necessary. These areas are experiencing widespread demonstrations that have turned violent with looting.”

Thirty police officers were injured on Monday night. The White House released a statement arguing that the "riots in Philadelphia are the most recent consequence of the Liberal Democrats’ war against the police."

"In America, we resolve conflicts through the courts and the justice system. We can never allow mob rule," the statement continued.

Riots erupted again on Tuesday, with Elijah Schaffer of The Blaze being attacked by looters as he tried to film their activities.

Schaffer said “[what] happened was, I just went into the Five Below to just see what was going on with some of the looting and I was jumped by the Black Lives Matter protesters, who immediately started punching and kicking me. One of them punched me directly right in the lip, I’m going to have to go to the hospital I think to get stitches in this lip because it’s just absolutely painful.”

The protesters also set fire to police vehicles.