PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — On her first Fourth of July as Philadelphia’s mayor, Cherelle Parker put her own stamp on the festivities.
Parker took a more active role in the Celebration of Freedom at Independence Hall than past mayors, acting as emcee as well as the featured speaker. She did not mince words in her speech about celebrating the holiday during an election in which democracy seems to hang in the balance.
She delivered a pointed message: “It feels like everything is hanging in the balance right now. Our right to expect our historic tradition of free and fair elections will be respected by everyone. And what happened to one of the bedrock principles of American democracy that no one is above the law?”
The mayor then launched the new One Philly Award, which will be presented annually on the Fourth. The inaugural recipient was basketball great Dawn Staley.
“Screaming to the top of your lungs wherever you are — like I have every continent, every state, every championship,” Staley said, “everyone knows that I’m from North Philly.”
The award honors Philadelphians who utilize their platform to unify, inspire and elevate the city, the mayor’s office said.
Staley, a graduate of Murrell Dobbins Vocational High School, is a two-time National Player of the Year (’91 and ’92), three-time Kodak All-American (’90, ’91, ’92), ACC Player of the Year (’91 and ’92), and the league’s Rookie of the Year in 1989.
She is a six-time WNBA All-Star and three-time NCAA Division 1 Tournament champion coach with the South Carolina Gamecocks.
“The One Philly Award is about recognizing great Philadelphians doing great things,” Parker added in a statement. “I could not think of many people who embody the resilience and grit of our city like Dawn Staley.”