Probe Launched into Use of Students at Rally

May 22, 2007 (WPVI) -- The question is whether students directed to perform community service were instead being used for a political rally for mayoral candidate Tom Knox.

The Community Service Program in the University City District has been suspended, and one of the top administrators placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation.

The event was held on the weekend before the election at Malcom X Park at 52nd and Pine Streets. Knox and his supporter, Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, made speeches. Penn student Jeff Doto, who was serving 20 hours of school-ordered community service, says he was directed to help set up for the rally.

"We set up the moon bounce things, these amusement rides and they had the grill going with the barbeque. Tom Knox came and gave his speech," said student Jeff Doto.

Penn student Luke Walker, who was also doing community service, says he too was asked to help, which he thought was a little odd.

"Doing community service for a minor infraction is one thing. Working for a partisan campaign is another," said Walker.

Blackwell says she's the one that asked University City district supervisor John Fenton to send people doing community service to help at Malcolm X Park that day, but she insists it wasn't a rally for Knox.

"This was not a Knox rally. This was a community rally. I asked nobody to do anything for a Knox rally. I asked them to do it for a community fair in the park where we had a church rally," said Blackwell.

"It was a Tom Knox rally. They had on every corner, the four corners of Malcom X Park, Tom Knox signs. They were passing out flyers," said Doto.

The park's own website refers to the May 12th event as a political rally. A band playing at the event wore Tom Knox t-shirts, but Councilwoman Blackwell insists Knox's appearance was inconsequential.

"I'm telling the head of the UCD Board and anybody concerned, if you have a problem with my politics, come to me. I make my decisions about who I endorse," said Blackwell.

In a statement, University City District says in part, the UCD leadership is reviewing the matter and will determine an appropriate course of action once all the facts are known.

A spokesman for the Knox campaign says they had no knowledge that students doing community service were allegedly used to set up for the appearance. The spokesman added they would have been totally against it if they had known.

(Copyright 2007 by Action News and 6abc. All Rights Reserved.)

Get more News »

• Email
• Print
• Report a typo
•