A participant in the gathering at Malcolm X. Park that resulted in several dozen police officers clearing the park out Saturday night told CBS3 that the event was peaceful and that cops overreacted.

Joseph Clifton says in a video posted on CBS3’s website (see below) that people gathered for a video shoot and cookout. He said the city had issued a permit for 300 people.

Clifton said as many as 30 police officers initially responded to ask organizers to turn music down. Soon after, more police arrived and cleared the park. Cell phone video that Clifton shot shows police lined up shoulder to shoulder with batons drawn, walking through the park. Several blocks around the park were closed and a police helicopter circled the park for about an hour.  Continue Reading

A couple dozen people – neighbors and members from groups “N.O.” (Neighbors Organized to Protect Our Communities) and West Philadelphians for Progressive Planning & Preservation – gathered on Sunday afternoon to protest the new residential developments at and around 43rd and Chestnut – the former site of the Christ Memorial Church demolished earlier this year, and at 12 S. 43rd Street.

The protesters held anti-gentrification signs and chanted “Say No to Gentrification! Say No! Say No! Say No! Philly Needs to Say No!” and marched along Chestnut Street between the two developments sites.  Continue Reading

Police broke up a large crowd that gathered in Malcolm X Park on Saturday night, according to reports. As many as 200 people gathered in the park at around 8 p.m. on Saturday and became increasingly aggressive, throwing objects at officers, 6ABC reports.

The crowd was dispersed after extra police help was brought in. A police helicopter was also seen in the area.

Some arrests were made, but it’s not clear yet how many people were arrested. No injuries were reported.

Three Baltimore Avenue businesses are teaming up to support students attending a neighborhood elementary school.

Mariposa Food Co-op, together with Hair Vyce Studio and Studio 34 Yoga, are collecting school supplies to donate to Harrington Elementary School located at 53rd and Baltimore.

Everyone is welcome to donate notebooks, pens, pencils, crayons, binders, paper, tissues and other supplies. All proceeds will be given directly to the school to distribute to the students on the first day of school (Tues., Sept. 3).  Continue Reading

Kingsessing Library (Photo from freelibrary.org).

State Rep. Jim Roebuck recently announced that $480,000 is on its way to the Kingsessing Library to repair and upgrade the building, which is located at 1201 S. 51st St.

The Kingsessing Library opened in 1919 and was last renovated in 1999.

The funding is part of more than $3 million in state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program funds that will be used to fund projects in the 188th legislative district.

Project funds also include $2 million to the Community College of Philadelphia’s West Philadelphia Regional Campus to develop a Career and Advanced Technology Center.

The Blackwell Regional Library is hosting a community read-in and memorial construction for author Toni Morrison on Saturday, Aug. 10.

The event “will celebrate the life, work, and the love that Toni Morrison had for us,” according to the library, which is located at 125 S. 52nd St. It runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will include readings from her many impactful works.

Library staff are asking people to bring flowers, candles, notes or “whatever you feel moved to bring” to help build a memorial for Morrison, who died on Aug. 5 at the age of 88.