Rally Against Madness

Around 11 am, in the chilling wind, a group of students from Jubilee Elementary school stand in the courtyard of City Hall, holding signs of plea and protest: “Save The Children.” “Do You Care About Our Community?” “We Want To Feel Safe.”

The students have lost three of their own to violence. And they’re joined by politicians, anti-violence activists and grieving families to demand the city's right to enact its own gun laws.

A middle-aged woman stands off to the side talking to a small audience of women about how her son was shot three times. “The only way they’re gonna stop crime is if people pray,” she warns.

At the start of the rally, a reverend offers a prayer. Then a rabbi. Then a member of the Muslim community.

Earlier in the day, City Councilman Darrell Clarke and City Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller rallied in Harrisburg at the state legislature. Last year the two filed a lawsuit, calling the city’s gun violence a “state-created danger.” Clarke and Miller are pushing for such reforms as a one-handgun-every-30-days, and lost-and-stolen gun reporting requirements.

“This is the most important issue in Philadelphia,” says Clarke, standing on a makeshift stage. “And today we take the first step in what we believe will be our right to determine our destiny.”

Clarke points out a mother holding a sign with a picture of an assault rifle that reads: “Who sold the gun that killed my son?" He also points out that in Philadelphia a person can buy 1,000 guns a day.

“I don’t know what kind of state allows us to do this,’ he says. “It’s ridiculous.”

The majority of the city’s homicides were committed with illegal guns.

Clarke vows to take the constitutional battle all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary. “We’re going to protect our citizens and our children,” he says.

City Council plans to introduce other gun legislation, which Mayor Michael Nutter promises he'll sign, telling the crowd, “We’re not messing around.”

Nutter tells how state law requires the reporting of a stolen car, a license to drive, and insurance on motor vehicles.

“None of which is required in terms of a handgun,” he says. “This is insanity. This is madness.”

(Photo credit: Jeff Fusco)

Carlos Torres, 55

On March 7 police responded to a call of a male assaulted on the 2900 block of North 4th Street. When they arrived, they found the victim, 55-year-old Carlos Torres, a Hispanic male, lying on the ground. Torres was unconscious and bleeding from the ear. He was transported to Temple University Hospital in critical condition. He was pronounced dead on March 8 at 4:46 pm. The medical examiner has determined that his death was a homicide. Police have no motive or suspect.

The city's body count for 2008: 53

Josephine Faust, 29

Update:
On February 20, 2008 at 4:30 pm, police responded to a radio call of a “house disturbance” at 3800 Cambridge Street. Upon arrival, Faust's sister told police there were blood spatters on the second floor of her home and that her sister’s bedroom door would not open. When police entered the bedroom, they found Faust, 29, black female, dead from multiple stab wounds.

The police have issued a murder arrest warrant for Faust's boyfriend, Eric Payne, a 30-year-old black male. Police consider Payne armed and dangerous, and mentally unstable.

2200 Bolton Street

At 1:28 am, police responded to a report of a person with a gun at 2200 Bolton Street. Upon arrival they found a 21 year-old black male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. The male was pronounced dead at the scene at 1:37 am.

Police have not released the male's name pending notification of his family.

Police have no motive or suspect.

The city's body count for 2008: 52

Update:
Police have identified the victim as Khalil Wright.

Nicholas Cruz, 38

On March 2, at 7:55 am, on the 200 block of W. Westmoreland, police found Nicholas Cruz, 38, Hispanic male, lying in the street with multiple gunshot wounds to the chest. Cruz was transported to Temple University Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 8:30 pm.

Police have no motive or arrest.

The city’s body count for 2008: 51

David Atkins, 43

On March 1, at 2:11 am, police found David Atkins, a 43-year-old black man, lying in his doorway on the 1600 block of Staub Street. Atkins suffered from multiple gunshots wounds to the head. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:30 am.

Police have no motive or arrest.

Anthony Grasso, 26

On Feb. 29, at 6:29 pm, police responded to a radio call of a shooting at 600 Fitzgerald Street. Upon arrival, they found a man on the sidewalk with multiple gunshot wounds to his head and torso. He was transported to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 6:51 pm. He was identified as 26-year-old Anthony Grasso, a white man from the 2100 block of South 4th Street.

Police have no motive or arrest.