The youth are only one aspect of Philadelphia’s growing problem in violence. A week ago, a cab driver from Germantown was shot in broad daylight and killed. Public transit stories have also resulted in bloodshed. On March 28th, Sean Conroy, 36, died following a confrontation with a group of teens at the Septa Market Frankford stop. His attackers mercilessly punched him until he was knocked unconscious. Later, when police pronounced him dead, they discovered he only had $36 in his wallet. The violence in Philadelphia has brought the city nicknamed the City of Brotherly Love down to its knees. For the visitors and workers that commute to Philadelphia on a daily or even weekly basis, the potential for violence has left people to wonder…when will it change? 

What can we do to fix the problem? Residents of Philadelphia blame the problem on the youth. The number of dropouts in Philadelphia has been rising steadily, and residents fear the youth who loiter. And no one says what they’re really thinking. Does he want to attack me?  The community of Philadelphia used to be a friendly one. The sirens wail, throughout the day and night, and the sound is so familiar, so commonplace in this city, that no one reacts.

Sometimes, we need a reaction.

Stacy Lipson