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Disgraceful Event in Billy Taylor Park
For a second year in a row an event in Billy Taylor Park, sponsored by a Mt. Hope neighborhood organization, turned violent, and the police had to be called in force to break up the melee. I walked up to the park to observe the commotion, and I counted over 22 uniformed police officers and a number of plainclothes officers. Several arrests were made as the crowd refused to disperse and made threatening moves toward the police while heaping verbal abuse on the officers.
Myself and several neighbors had called the police several times over the course of the day to complain about rowdy behavior and excessive noise. I personally witnessed three drug deals in front of my house, as this event is used as a cover for drug dealers who make their arrangements in the park then meet their buyers on the next street over.
Someone blocked off Camp Street at the corner of Camp and Locust by pulling an old desk that I was throwing away out of my trash area and dragged it into the middle of Camp Street to block off traffic. It looked so stupid and ridiculous. But that was the level of organization at this event.
The event featured a loud sound system clearly in violation of the city noise ordinance. They predominately featured rap music as the event seemed designed solely to serve the African American community.
I heard live rappers liberally dropping the "N" word in a song a bout "East Side Niggarz" as well as much use of the words "Fuck" and "Bitch". Many young, impressionable children were present to hear the profane music and to learn from their elders.
I don't understand how such lyrics can serve the community or have a place at a community event in a public park. I find it patently offensive and inexcusable.
I would love to hear from the organizers of the event to understand what, if anything, they were thinking. Do they understand how ridiculous they now look, how many people they alienated, how they made Mt. Hope look like a ghetto again and again perpetuated the bad reputation Mt. Hope has for drugs, filth, violence, and unsafe streets. Do they?
At any rate the event was over at 7, but the crowd did not disperse. There were no event organizers there to help, nor were any police present as the event drew to a close. A large crowd gathered on the sidewalk by the park along Camp Street. Cars were parked and double parked on both sides of Camp Street blasting their sound systems. It was impossible for cars or pedestrians to pass. The crowd was very loud, rowdy, and threatening. That is why it took 25 police officers to disperse them.
I do not know the name of the event, who sponsored it, nor do I know who pulled the permit nor what type of permit was granted. It is public record so I will attempt to find out. I will also attempt to speak to the police to find out why police officers were not present to help with crowd control as the event has a history of being rowdy and violent.
I consider it another low point for Mt. Hope's African American community, another black eye. The second year in a row their event turned violent.
I'll be passing on the information about the event as I learn more. Someone should step up and take responsibility for this fiasco. They owe the Mt. Hope community an apology.
Posted at June 11, 2007 09:41 AM
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