On Saturday night a record crowd of 19,027 people packed into PPL Park on Chester’s waterfront.
By all accounts, they came into the city, enjoyed a scintillating night of Major League Soccer and saw the first-place Union knock off their rival New York Red Bulls.
Then they got back in their cars and returned home safe and sound.
The people who live in Chester don’t have that luxury.
A little less than 24 hours before, a sound all too familiar to Chester residents rang out. It was not the sound of fans cheering, nor the signature ‘Doop’ call of the rabid soccer fanatics who call themselves the Sons of Ben.
It was gunfire.
Someone tossed a firecracker in a crowded social hall that was hosting a teen party. Gunshots followed. Two people were killed, and another eight wounded.
Why seems to be the question now, as the city tries to come to grips with still one more senseless shooting, and more importantly try to figure out what to do about it.
No doubt there will be calls once again for officials to re-institute the State of Emergency that was put in place in the city after a rash of fatal shootings last summer that left five people dead, including a 2-year-old boy. A strict curfew was put in place in several troubled sections of the city. Public gatherings were limited.
Ironically, just a week ago a memorial service was held in the city for little Terrance Webster.
Now two more funerals are being planned for young people cut down by gun violence in the city.
One resident who lives near the Minaret Temple where the party was held put it in pretty stark terms.
“The city’s become a war zone,” said James Johnson. He’s lived across the street from the party scene for 20 years.
Two steps forward, one step back.
Every time the city moves ahead – and make no mistake this is a city on the move – it is reminded of how far it has to go.
City officials are loathe to admit that much of the violence stems from factions or turf wars among young people. I’m not so sure.
I am sure of one thing. There are too many guns in the hands of young people in Chester.
That has to change. And if it takes a State of Emergency to do it, so be it.
By all accounts, they came into the city, enjoyed a scintillating night of Major League Soccer and saw the first-place Union knock off their rival New York Red Bulls.
Then they got back in their cars and returned home safe and sound.
The people who live in Chester don’t have that luxury.
A little less than 24 hours before, a sound all too familiar to Chester residents rang out. It was not the sound of fans cheering, nor the signature ‘Doop’ call of the rabid soccer fanatics who call themselves the Sons of Ben.
It was gunfire.
Someone tossed a firecracker in a crowded social hall that was hosting a teen party. Gunshots followed. Two people were killed, and another eight wounded.
Why seems to be the question now, as the city tries to come to grips with still one more senseless shooting, and more importantly try to figure out what to do about it.
No doubt there will be calls once again for officials to re-institute the State of Emergency that was put in place in the city after a rash of fatal shootings last summer that left five people dead, including a 2-year-old boy. A strict curfew was put in place in several troubled sections of the city. Public gatherings were limited.
Ironically, just a week ago a memorial service was held in the city for little Terrance Webster.
Now two more funerals are being planned for young people cut down by gun violence in the city.
One resident who lives near the Minaret Temple where the party was held put it in pretty stark terms.
“The city’s become a war zone,” said James Johnson. He’s lived across the street from the party scene for 20 years.
Two steps forward, one step back.
Every time the city moves ahead – and make no mistake this is a city on the move – it is reminded of how far it has to go.
City officials are loathe to admit that much of the violence stems from factions or turf wars among young people. I’m not so sure.
I am sure of one thing. There are too many guns in the hands of young people in Chester.
That has to change. And if it takes a State of Emergency to do it, so be it.
Comments
They need to go to the source -- the gun dealer. Then they need to get a higher authority in there and search every home for weapons. Take away their daily "entertainment" and maybe things will improve. Oh yeah and then there's that curfew...