South Street Riots: UPDATE! - Possible Sources, Size

On a forum posting on PhillyBlog by a user named Gladys Kravitz, Gladys states that she received an e-mail from the Bella Vista Town Watch with information for Lt. Gerry McShea of the Philadelphia Police Department (PPD):

"During the past two Saturday nights, thousands of African American youth, (roughly six to 10 thousand people, ages 12 to 18, by McShea's estimates) descended onto South Street. On Saturday, May 23rd, the crowd scene resulted in some vandalism. But late last Saturday night, May 30th, as an increased police presence pushed the teens off South Street, the crowd spilled over into neighborhoods, and some participants engaged in several robberies, a carjacking of cab, several assaults and also retail theft.

Police believe the crowds were responding to messages sent from an account or accounts on ourspace.com, a social networking site for African Americans. It was happening at 40th and Walnut for a couple months, and also Upper Darby, but is now centered on the South Street corridor.

After two weekends of unexpected chaos on South Street, the city is taking a "no-nonsense approach" to managing South Street crowds during the weekends leading up to the annual Greek Picnic on July 11, McShea said. Plans include a significantly increased police presence (including mounted state police officers) along South Street from Broad Street to Front Street, an on-site night court, and a curfew bus.

"At midnight, if we find anyone 18 and under still on the street, we're going to bring them in, and their parents will have to come and get them at the police district," said McShea. "Parents could also face a fine."

City officials are also reaching out to the Philadelphia School District and community officials to help diffuse the situation.

In past weeks, the crowds dispersed off South Street starting at and west of 12th Street.

"If anyone happens to see large crowds coming down the street, call 911 immediately, and then, after you've called 911, also call the South Street MiniStation at (215) 922-6706", said McShea. "We can dispatch from there."

"For business owners, when they see the surge, our advice is for them to just lock their doors", McShea said, adding police would attempt to direct the crowd away from restaurants with outdoor seating.

McShea suggested that residents outside at night should step inside if they see crowds of teens. What seemed to happen last week is that they singled out people and roughed them up for no apparent reason beyond the fact that they weren't with the crowd.

It's worth noting that the law in Philadelphia regarding Curfew are that minors must be inside at 10:30PM on Sunday - Thursday, and Midnight on Friday's and Saturday's. Fines are between $25 and $300.

Now, I think its safe to say that from here, its likely we won't see a crowd on South Street or 40th and Walnut anytime soon. That doesn't mean this is the end. What it means is that the methods used will be modified and that the crowds will, instead, go somewhere else. I can't predict where or how. But we could also see this come to a head Saturday.

I'll post anything more I find out about this as it develops.

Photos are courtesy of cowpaintings.