Philadelphia volunteers train to deter crime and end violence in the city

By Lauren McGlone
Collegian Editor
September 19, 2007

As the city of Philadelphia witnessed the 300th murder of 2007, anti-violence groups, activists and entertainment personalities have called on volunteers to stand guard in city neighborhoods.

The plan has been named “A Plan to Action: 10,000 Men – It’s a New Day” and has called for just that many city men to help maintain peace in Philadelphia’s neighborhoods.

Entertainment promoter Charles “Charlie Mack” Alston, a close friend of Philly native Will Smith and active supporter of ending violence in Philadelphia, is one of the creators of this program, which is set to begin Oct. 21 with a kickoff at Temple University’s Liacouras Center. The event is part of Philadelphia’s “Millions More Movement.”

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson has fully backed this program and any other program intended to end the violence in Philadelphia.

“This is a call to action,” Johnson said to Philadelphia City Paper. “What they see is crime tape everyday and they should be tired of seeing that. They see fear in the women and children. These men are concerned on an individual basis and now they have a chance to be a united group.”

The program is calling on volunteers to patrol the communities of Philadelphia to help maintain peace, but all law enforcement will be the responsibility of the police.

While the program will not be run by the city, volunteers will be professionally trained by police officers in conflict resolution. Volunteers will not be equipped with any type of weapon.

While most people see Mack as an entertainer, others are beginning to notice his crime-prevention activism. He is calling for an active plan to help stop the violence and murder in the city of Philadelphia.

“This is a movement about responsibility, not just another rally calling for peace,” Mack said to the Philadelphia Tribune Sept. 17. “We have an obligation and responsibility to protect our women, our children and our elderly. These are our young black men dying on the streets.”

Kenny Gamble is another founder of this program in Philadelphia to stop crime.

“This is not about religion or politics or where you came from,” Gamble said in Philadelphia City Paper. “It’s a common issue amongst us all. We are joined together as men to help the city of Philadelphia.”

Those who have joined Mack, Johnson and Gamble include Philadelphia personalities and leaders like E. Stephen Collins of Radio One, Mark Harrell of Men United, Bishop James Robinson and Rev. Robert Shine.

Mack has coordinated and hosted the Party 4 Peace Celebrity Weekend in Philadelphia for the past four years. He has been known to collaborate with Will and Jada Pinkett Smith in seeking to combat crime in the city. The annual event’s Web site features articles and news stories regarding the rising crime and murder rates in Philadelphia in an effort to raise awareness.

Men United for a Better Philadelphia and Mothers United through Tragedy have also joined in a coalition with media and community leaders in order to prevent crime and murder in the city.

mcglonel1@lasalle.edu