Dribbling Can’t Stem Tide Of Violence

In addition to Diplo madness this weekend, there was a series of anti-violence rallies all over Philadelphia. It was all part of Charlie Mack’s Party 4 Peace, an annual antiviolence weekend in Philadelphia.

One of the highlights of the weekend was a celebrity basketball game yesterday afternoon that drew hundreds. The attendees felt it was an important event, because, well, take it away, attendees:

Joe Henderson, 25, of Southwest Philadelphia, was more blunt: “A lot of young kids, they can’t be shooting because they’re in here.”

Yes indeed! All we need is non-stop basketball, day-in, day-out, and nobody will die of anything but exhaustion! (I’m also fairly sure that Henderson’s quote is really similar to a Chris Rock bit.)

Yep. That’s all we need. Basketball!

Or, y’know, not:

Authorities are investigating four fatalities over the past four days, including a homicide reported early this morning in the Tacony section of the Lower Northeast.

Cry of peace unanswered [Inquirer]
Violence claims 4 more in city [Inquirer]