Ironic Philly Crime Spree Continues

I’m always a little wary of using the word irony, since I don’t really quite have any idea what the hell it means. I mean, I do, but anytime somebody anywhere ever seems to say something is ironic, someone says that’s not really irony. Wary of looking even stupider than I usually do, I try to avoid using irony unless it’s something like Oedipus Rex, where smart teachers have told me there is irony when he has sex with his mom or whatever.

But now that this has happened twice, I think it’s time to call this a full-blown ironic crime spree, even if there’s a chance irony only refers to old plays English teachers have told you are ironic. Last week, a peace rally in West Philadelphia turned violent.

And last night, another anti-violence rally had a shooting outside it, this time in Nicetown.

Philadelphia police at a community meeting Wednesday evening on Germantown Avenue, suddenly found themselves on the scene of a shootout just outside the building in Nicetown.

The captain was working an evening shift as part of the commissioner’s response to violent crime in the city.

It was just after 6:30 when shots rang out outside the meeting hall. Some attendees fell to the floor. But Captain John McCloskey and officer Vince Laspina rushed outside, virtually into the middle of the gun battle on a busy Germantown Avenue.

Next time somebody asks me how I’m doing my part to stem the tide of violence in this city, I’ll just answer honestly: By not organizing any anti-violence rallies.

Peace Rally Turns Violent in West Philadelphia [KYW 1060]
Shootout Erupts Outside Anti-Violence Meeting in Germantown [KYW 1060]
[Photo via Wikipedia page for Irony, by pschemp]