Thousands of men pledge to patrol for peace
By Vernon Clark
Inquirer Staff Writer
Declaring a new day in the struggle to reduce crime and violence in the black communities of Philadelphia, civic, community, government and religious leaders yesterday urged thousands of black men to step forward to help patrol streets.
At an event billed as “A Call to Action: 10,000 Men” at the Liacouras Center in North Philadelphia, nearly 10,000 men – most of them dressed in black – gathered to volunteer to be “peacekeepers” in their communities. Many were lined up at tables with sign-up forms. A number already had registered online, organizers said.
[SNIP]
Charles “Charlie Mack” Alston, a music and movie producer who was instrumental in organizing the project, told the men, “We have an obligation . . . to protect our women, our children and our seniors.”
Alston, who lost two brothers to violence in Philadelphia, urged “everyone to get involved in some capacity. The worst thing we can do is do nothing.”
Toward the end of the program, Joe Certaine, director of operations for the project, called on the men in the audience to attend orientation sessions throughout the city over the next two weeks:
Men from West Philadelphia were told to go to West Philadelphia High School on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Men from North Central Philadelphia were asked to go to Dobbins High School on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
In South Philadelphia, volunteers were asked to go to South Philadelphia High School on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
Certaine said detailed information on all of the orientation sessions would be posted on the Internet at www.10000menphilly.com. (more…)
