Cosby calls on Philly to crush violence
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Bill Cosby called on parents and community elders to communicate with their children to help stop a wave of violence that has plagued the city for more than a year. Cosby spoke Monday to a crowd of several hundred people after joining an anti-violence group on an hour-long march through West Philadelphia. "You’ve got to teach your children how to think," he said. "You watch one blow the other one’s head off and how can you feel good about yourself?"
The event was the fourth of seven anti-violence appearances that Cosby, a Philadelphia native, has pledged to take part in with Men United for a Better Philadelphia, which organized the march.
Philadelphia’s homicide rate of more than a murder a day in 2007 is ahead of last year’s pace, when the homicide count of more than 400 was the highest in nine years.
During the march, the comedian waved to neighbors and spontaneously climbed front porches to shake hands -- breaking out of a crowd that grew to hundreds.
Democratic mayoral candidate Michael Nutter also walked. He tried to appeal directly to young people, who are involved in the bulk of the city’s violent crimes.
"Stop carrying these guns," Nutter said. "Pick up a book."
Men United’s co-chair Malik Aziz, a victim and perpetrator of gun violence before he joined the group, said his organization hoped to bring together current and former gang leaders to broker a cease-fire.
