Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner and Activist Kirsten Britt Speak Out for Pool Access at POOL Exhibition

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner discussed the importance of public pools to stem youth violence at a press conference held at the POOL exhibition on Monday, July 11th, calling for extended hours of operation at Philly’s current swimming facilities to help prevent violence in the city. “I don’t know if there’s any better way to put it than saving lives as opposed to taking lives,” Krasner said. “I’d like to go down that path instead of seeing kids on either end of a gun.”

Activist Kirsten Britt also spoke stating, “I deserve to swim, people like me deserve to swim, and unfortunately in our city, we’re struggling with closing pools at a time when we need it the most.” Britt is the founder of Inspire Me 2 Change and the I Deserve to Swim group working to reopen public pools that have been closed in predominantly Black neighborhoods.