Chester couple stand behind president at campaign stop
Lives of Delaware County residents intertwined with the president and first lady on Friday.
Risa DeSilva-King and her husband, Jonathan, had a busy day Friday.
First, as program director and founder of the nonprofit Safe Corridors focused on successfully transitioning re-entering individuals into the community, the couple led a reentry simulation at Neumann University.
Then, in the evening, they were part of the spectacle that occurs when a presidential visit comes to town.
The two, well known in Chester for their work with Safe Corridors, were invited to the Strath Haven Middle School, one of the first stops on the tour President Joe Biden was making in the aftermath of his State of the Union speech.
“We get there,” DeSilvaKing said. “They give us blue wristbands. They then directed us to a room with other dignitaries — (state Rep.) Carol Kazeem, (D-159, of Chester); (state Rep.) Gina Curry, (D-164, of Upper Darby); and Malcolm Yates (of the Public Health Management Corp).”
She said she didn’t know the significance of the blue wristbands, but waited with the others in the school’s cafeteria.
“Then, they take us on stage,” DeSilva-King said. “Jonathan and I wound up standing in the very front row. I was there and I was right behind (the president).”
She recalled first lady Jill Biden opening for her husband as well as Springfield Pharmacy owner Chichi Ilonzo Momah.
“President Biden is funny, he is,” DeSilvaKing said. “He’s very personable, he’s very funny. He’s very down to earth as well.”
She recalled how he gave his speech, following the words on the teleprompter but then was going off script.
“He shared some of
his thoughts about women’s rights over our bodies, about how the rich are consistently evading paying taxes,” DeSilvaKing said, adding that he stressed how unfair that was.
She said he also highlighted working teachers
and police officers.
“It was really an amazing opportunity,” DeSilvaKing said. “It was really nice. The entire event, everybody there. It was high, positive energy.”
She said the worst part was the standing for the prolonged periods of time.
DeSilva-King had hopes to interact with the president but that didn’t come
to fruition, this time.
She said they were all directed by the Secret Service to keep their hands to themselves.
“When he was done, the president came off the stage and interacted with people,” DeSilva-King said.
Once pictures and videos of the event were aired, she said her phone lit up.
“I’m seeing you!” friends and family reached out to say. “Is that you standing behind the president?”
“Front and center,” she replied.
DeSilva-King approved of the message and delivery presented by the president at Strath Haven.
“I think he hit a home run,” she said. “I think it was good follow up to his state of the union address. He doubled down, he doubled down.”