August 12, 2011
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A tough new 9 p.m. curfew for young people under 18 goes into effect in parts of Philadelphia tonight as the mayor and police try to break up "flash mob" violence that has plagued the city for almost two years, The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
The "flash mobs," organized via social media and text messages, mobilize hundreds and sometimes thousands of young people to a designated location where they harass and beat up people on the street.
In one incident, the gangs of mostly black teens knocked down passers-by, then descended on a department store to assault shoppers, says a report by BET. In another case, hundreds of teens besieged the city's restaurant district, forcing owners to shut down for the night.
In announcing the curfew, Mayor Michael Nutter blamed the "terrible acts" on a "small number of reckless teenagers who have damaged our city and our citizens."
On Sunday, Nutter, who is African-American, mounted the pulpit at Mount Carmel Baptist Church in West Philadelphia to scold the troublemakers by saying "you have damaged your race," BET reports.
An excerpt from his remarks to the congregation:
"If you walk into somebody's office with your hair uncombed and a pick in the back, and your shoes untied, and your pants half down, tattoos up and down your arms and on your neck, and you wonder why somebody won't hire you? They don't hire you 'cause you look like you're crazy."
Teens who violate the target curfew can be fined up to $300. Parents who have received a curfew-violation notice can be fined up to $500 for a new violations by their child.
Philly curfew begins tonight to combat 'flash mob' violence
A tough new 9 p.m. curfew for young people under 18 goes into effect in parts of Philadelphia tonight as the mayor and police try to break up "flash mob" violence that has plagued the city for almost two years, The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
The "flash mobs," organized via social media and text messages, mobilize hundreds and sometimes thousands of young people to a designated location where they harass and beat up people on the street.
In one incident, the gangs of mostly black teens knocked down passers-by, then descended on a department store to assault shoppers, says a report by BET. In another case, hundreds of teens besieged the city's restaurant district, forcing owners to shut down for the night.
In announcing the curfew, Mayor Michael Nutter blamed the "terrible acts" on a "small number of reckless teenagers who have damaged our city and our citizens."
On Sunday, Nutter, who is African-American, mounted the pulpit at Mount Carmel Baptist Church in West Philadelphia to scold the troublemakers by saying "you have damaged your race," BET reports.
An excerpt from his remarks to the congregation:
"If you walk into somebody's office with your hair uncombed and a pick in the back, and your shoes untied, and your pants half down, tattoos up and down your arms and on your neck, and you wonder why somebody won't hire you? They don't hire you 'cause you look like you're crazy."
Teens who violate the target curfew can be fined up to $300. Parents who have received a curfew-violation notice can be fined up to $500 for a new violations by their child.
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