Mobs (of black youths in Philadelphia) Are Born as Word Grows by Text Message

New York Times ^ | March 24, 2010 | Ian Urbina

[reaganaut1]

...

[S]o-called flash mobs have taken a more aggressive and raucous turn here as hundreds of teenagers have been converging downtown for a ritual that is part bullying, part running of the bulls: sprinting down the block, the teenagers sometimes pause to brawl with one another, assault pedestrians or vandalize property.

On Wednesday, the police here said that they had had enough. They announced plans to step up enforcement of a curfew already on the books, and to tighten it if there is another incident.

They added that they planned to hold parents legally responsible for their children’s actions. They are also considering making free transit passes for students invalid after 4 p.m., instead of 7 p.m., to limit teenagers’ ability to ride downtown.

“This is bad decision making by a small group of young people who are doing silly but dangerous stuff,” Mayor Michael A. Nutter said in an interview Wednesday. “We intend to do something about it immediately.”

Flash mobs are not unique to Philadelphia, but they have been more frequent here than elsewhere. Others that resulted in arrests and injuries have been reported over the past year in Boston, South Orange, N.J., and Brooklyn.

...

The flash mobs have raised questions about race and class.

Most of the teenagers who have taken part in them are black and from poor neighborhoods. Most of the areas hit have been predominantly white business districts.

In the flash mob on Saturday, groups of teenagers were chanting “black boys” and “burn the city,” bystanders said.

In a Feb. 16 melee, 150 teenagers spilled out of the Gallery shopping mall east of City Hall during rush hour and rampaged through Macy’s, knocking down customers and damaging displays.

[RightOnline]

Savages.

[unixfox]

“We intend to do something about it immediately.”

I bet they're scared.

[Travis McGee]

Wow! The MSM actually dared mention the mobs are black!

[MrB]

I bet someone in the White Hut is looking into using this as a political weapon...

[Zeppelin]

Never let a good crisis go to waste!

[homegroan]

How do they AFFORD to text etc.?

[TSgt]

If you haven't seen it, get a copy. It's a great preview of things to come...

[silverleaf]

are obama and the democrats aiding and abetting this violence?

sarc (see Drudge headline)

[TSgt]

How do they AFFORD to text etc.?

How to Get A Free Cell Phone From The U.S. Government http://www.ehow.com/how_5577609_cell-phone-government.html

[silverleaf]

The MSM actually dared mention the mobs are black!

Only to ensure you understand these poor yoots are victims of a racist America

[ibytoohi]

The descent into anarchy begins...

This is why we are in desperate need of a national civilian police force to protect law abiding citizens. I expect an executive order at any time.

[SkipW]

The police should break a lot of bones. These punks should be hospitalized for doing this. One thing they do understand is pain. Especially their own.

[SkipW]

No way in hell do we need a national civilian police force. Are you muts?

[Travis McGee]

Mayor Nutter, who is black, rejected the notion that race or the city cut in services was a factor. “I don’t think people should be finding excuses for inappropriate behavior,” Mr. Nutter said. “There is no racial component to stupid behavior, and parents should not be looking to the government to provide entertainment for their children.”

[csmusaret]

Damn. Never have a hand grenade when you need one!

[Steamburg]

Texting with government subsidized phones? Perhaps if Courts could release some of the GITMO boys there they could be productive and give these utes direction. America isn’t crumbling fast enough and it’s so hard to control the people.

[Red Badger]

Flash Mobs can be eliminated by Flash Grenades................

[School of Rational Thought]

We definitely need more jobs for kids, we need more summer jobs for kids, we need more after-school programming, and we need more parent support,” said Shelly Yanoff, executive director of Public Citizens for Children and Youth, a children’s advocacy group in Philadelphia.

She went on to commit to ensuring the passage a amnesty for all illegal aliens declaring that the competition for jobs will strengthen their youths. ;-)

[SkipW]

I hit the wrong key. I was asking whether you are NUTS.