Killer Contest

Who doesn’t think this is messed up? 

How many people have to die before someone wins valuable prizes? Our city’s gasping alt (-Right?) weekly newspaper is seriously asking readers to guess Philadelphia’s body count. Whoever’s closest on November 2nd will win “sweet swag” as we’re all heading to the polls to elect (or re-elect) our next D.A.

WHYY/Revive Media’s P.O.C. hit the streets recently, asking local residents how they feel about Philly Weekly’s new contest — Are You Mad or Nah? Neighbors sound off! NOTE: Some speakers provide their names & neighborhoods, some don’t. Check out their voices in P.O.C.’s original recorded interviews, transcribed here:

  • That concerns me because I feel that’s making light of a situation that’s very serious. It’s one thing when you are trying to create lotteries to promote positive behaviors. But when you’re looking at people who are being killed, we shouldn’t make a game out of that. — Eleanor and West Philly.
  • Yeah, it’s kind of strange to me. I think it’s like, really insensitive. And it’s really distasteful because, like, it’s a serious problem in the city of Philadelphia. So I’m not sure like, kind of creating that kind of discussion around it is really like appropriate. So, I don’t know, maybe try a different approach. That’s what I say.  — Isaiah, Northeast Philly.

  • My name is Jeff. I live in West Philly. I mean, it does make me mad to me. That’s really trivializing, you know, tragedies that are happening in our city all the time. And placing the blame on Krasner seems like, you know, maybe they could be focusing on finding ways to solve these problems rather than, you know, getting publicity off of people’s deaths. — Jeff, West Philly
  • Yeah, I think that’s pretty messed up that you have to offer stuff and that like, they kind of treat it like a game. You know, I’m saying like, like, a guessing game. Whoever guesses the closest gets stuff. I think it’s pretty cool stuff. I feel like it’s getting really, really bad. And, I mean, you can ban all the guns, but I’m not sure how much that would help. But I believe that stricter background checks overall would help out the amount of illegal weapons in the street. — Matthew, South Philly
  • Yeah I mean, it was tone deaf. I mean, there’s been a lot of violence. And I’ve like down the block from me. I’ve witnessed shootings happen and like at community centers around me and children have been affected by it. And yeah, I don’t think it’s the I don’t think it’s something to joke about when it’s something so real on our streets. — Rebecca, City resident
  • I’m repulsed by it. Certainly I don’t think that anybody should be trying to guess the amount of people that die every year or any at any time. — Lance, City resident
  • It definitely it upsets me because I think I think so many people are dehumanizing homicides. And I think that that’s a clear example of that happening. So I don’t like that at all.  — Resident, West Philly
  • It makes me feel sad, because it’s upsetting about all the murders and i don’t think i think instead of trying to guess how many murders, we should try to do something to stop them. — Resident, Philadelphia
  • I think it’s unfortunate that someone in the public would ask that type of question. I’d like to know how many people the police are going to save. — Resident, Philadelphia

How ‘Bout You?

Reading these comments, are you mad or nah? Big mad, little mad? Reach out to revive.poc@gmail.com or leave a message on this post below. Read the last Mad or Nah here.

Mad or Nah is an original woman-on-the-street interview series from REVIVE Radio that asks Philadelphians about issues impacting their everyday life. Tamara Russell aka Proof of Consciousness aka P.O.C. hosts and produces a variety of award-winning shows featured on Uptown Radio 98.5FM and Philly’s WHYY/NPR/PBS outlets.

FIGHT  BACK!

Join P.O.C. along with Tabor Community Partners and your friends at The Local for a very special screening of the documentary Shell Shocked in Vernon Park. Thursday, June 24th (5pm to 7pm). This award-winning feature delves into the hearts and minds of real teens and parents dealing with gun violence. Trained professionals will be on-site to provide immediate support, if needed.

In addition, several local news outlets including WHYY/N.I.C.E. partners will offer guests the opportunity to speak out, sign petitions, and organize for change. “This event is the result of brainstorming sessions for a gun violence project for WHYY,” said grassroots media personality P.O.C. “We want to meet people where they are, let them know they matter.”

Along with local news and resources, Unity in the Community offers food and raffles, too! It’s a multi-faceted, multimedia experience for empowering neighbors to reach out to – and look after – one another.

Guests are encouraged to #wearorange to honor victims and survivors of gun violence, and call attention to this crisis in our communities. Orange ribbons will be provided, as well, to reinforce the solidarity. All welcome. 

About The Local 155 Articles
The Local byline reflects community-created content (usually from social media, often from audio/video sources) that we've collected and edited into an article for our website/newspaper.

3 Comments

  1. Of course I’m mad, it’s utterly gross and that’s the kindest description I can give that. These are people children, mothers, fathers, our neighbors. What the ever-loving fuck, and yet at the same time I’m not surprised.

    • Great comment thanks for sharing and for “what the ever-loving fuck” which will be my new catch phrase for awhile, I think. 🙂

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