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From YouTube: Inside Philadelphia City Council: Kenyatta Johnson
Description
Councilman Kenyatta Johnson explains how gun violence inspired him to become a community advocate and then an elected representative. Councilman Johnson currently represents the 2nd Council District. Inside Philadelphia City Hall airs on Comcast Channel 64 and on PhillyCAM (Comcast 66 & 966; Verizon 29 & 30).
A
A
A
B
A
A
pleasure
to
talk
to
you
now,
you've
been
in
the
political
scene
for
a
while,
but
you're
someone
who's
dealt
with
Philadelphia
in
a
number
of
different
ways.
One
of
the
biggest
things
on
your
mind,
right
now
is
has
been
throughout.
Your
history
has
been
dealing
with
the
guns
and
violence
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia.
Before
we
walk
back
a
little
bit
talk
to
us
about
what
you
think
about
the
state
of
violence
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia
right
now.
Well,.
B
Right
now,
primarily
number
one
killer
of
african-american
young
men
is
homicide
through
gun
violence,
and
so
it's
an
issue
that
I
believe
that
we
should
be
aggressively
addressing
providing
different
alternatives
to
young
men
standing
on
the
corner,
young
men
selling
drugs,
making
sure
that
we
also
make
sure
that
ex
offenders
who
are
coming
home
back
into
our
communities
have
an
opportunity
to
get
gainful
employment.
So
they
don't
get
involved
and
the
issues
of
gun
violence
that
has
been
taking
place
throughout
the
city
of
Philadelphia.
Now.
A
You've
been
dealing
with
this
for
a
while
even
had
some
personal
issues
and
come
up
in
your
past,
so
it's
affected.
You
directly
I
talk
to
us
a
little
bit
about
how
you
ended
up
here
in
your
path,
because
you've
been
hands-on.
You've
been
in
the
community
dealing
with
this
problem
for
a
long
time,
so
talk
to
us
a
little
bit
about
when
you
first
figured
out
that
you
wanted
to
do
something.
Yes,.
B
In
1998,
a
cousin
of
mine
was
murdered
in
the
streets
of
South
Philadelphia,
with
petty
argument
and
as
opposed
to
me,
getting
involved
in
the
retaliation
that
took
place,
as
was
out
of
my
cousin,
being
murdered
that
we
can
I
organized
the
first
piece,
not
guns
rally
in
prayer
vigil.
It's
when
I
organize
community
leaders
from
across
the
city
of
Philadelphia,
as
well
as
the
residents
in
my
neighborhood
to
come
out
and
organize
around
having
a
community
of
peace
and
not
guns
and
so
I'm.
B
A
Talked
a
little
bit
about
the
anger
management
piece,
because
it
seems
to
me
that
that's
something
that
a
lot
of
these
violent
acts
that
we're
hearing
about
on
the
news
where
they
ended,
someone's
death
or
or
some
kind
of
violent
attacks,
seem
to
be
stemming
from
arguments
and
brief
encounters
s
where
it
doesn't
seem
like
it
should
end.
In
the
taking
of
someone's
life
yeah.
B
Well,
if
you
look
at
statistics
on
by
the
Philadelphia
Police
Department,
probably
about
seventy
percent
of
the
gun,
related
incidents
are
based
upon
petty
arguments
and
that's
why
it's
always
tough
to
narrow
down
on
on
why
conflict
arises
out
of
an
actual
argument
and
resolves
and
actually
the
sobs
on
a
homicide.
And
so
we
focus
on
helping
young
and
express
themselves
in
a
positive
manner
in
terms
of
their
anger
and
also
how
they
address.
Conflict
in
a
peaceful
manner.
Have.
A
B
They
can
just
smart,
positive
choices
when
they
come
down
to
making
sure
they
don't
get
involved
in
gun
violence,
and
so,
if
I
have
a
job,
I'm
gonna
be
more
prone
to
not
want
to
get
involved
in
something
negative,
because
I
have
a
job
and
I
want
to
keep
my
job.
And
so
we
always
try
to
show
young
people
the
consequences
of
their
actions
and
really
focus
on
making
sure
that
they
have
the
resources
and
ability
to
go
on
and
do
positive.
Two
things
as
opposed
the
things
that
are
negative.
Speaking.
A
B
That's
extremely
important
statistic
shows
that
if
you
have
a
young
man,
who's
gainfully
employed
did
less
likely
to
get
involved
in
the
life
of
crime
and
violence.
If
you
provide
a
young
man,
the
opportunity
in
the
millions
that
take
care
of
his
family
he's
going
to
be
less
likely
to
get
involved
in
the
life
of
crime
of
violence,
and
so
as
an
elected
official
and
also
as
an
african-american
young
male
I,
advocated
strongly
to
make
sure
that
one
we
have
programs
that
are
put
in
place
to
help
young
men
with
soft
skills
such
as
resume.
B
Writing
cover
letters.
I
have
a
staff
member.
That's
all
my
staff,
there
solely
focus
on
helping
young
men
and
anybody
that
comes
to
my
office
to
get
gainful
employment,
but
also
making
sure
that
juveniles
and
adults
when
it
arrested
and
they
do
time
when
they
come
back
to
society.
They
also
have
an
opportunity
to
become
gainfully,
employ
and
I
think
that
will
go
a
long
way
to
what
addressing
issue
of
crime
and
violence
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia,
making
sure
that
people
have
an
opportunity
to
live.
The
American
dream
now.
A
You've
done
this
from
the
grassroots
level,
the
state
level,
and
now
the
city
level
talk
to
me
about
how
you've
had
it
had
the
ability
to
have
different
impacts
from
those
places
and
and
how
they
work
together
to
make
sure
that
you
can
do
it
because
it
seems
at
different
times
the
state
is
less
cooperative
or
the
city
is
less
cooperative
and
grassroots
folks
are
always
struggling
to
get
the
resources
that
they
need
talk
to
us
about
how
that
synergy
works.
Well,.
B
First
and
foremost,
when
I
served
in
the
state
house,
I've
always
advocated
for
common
sense,
gun
laws
but,
more
importantly,
the
resources
to
make
sure
that
a
young
person
that
doesn't
have
to
pick
up
a
gun
in
the
first
place.
So
if
that's
making
sure
more
resources
go
to
our
after-school
programs,
that's
making
sure
that
more
resources
go
to
our
drug
and
alcohol
programs
and
that's
making
sure
that
more
resources
go
to
our
job,
training
and
employment
programs
throughout
sit
in
Philadelphia.
B
And
that's
what
I
always
put
on
the
priority
as
a
part
of
me
advocating
for
resources
to
make
sure
that
young
people
don't
have
to
pick
up
a
gun
in
the
first
place,
but
also
in
the
city
level.
We
do
grassroots
outreach
to
make
sure
that
people
have
the
resources
again
utilize
my
office
when
they
come
to
getting
a
GED
utilizing
our
office
when
it
comes
to
getting
housing
utilize
our
office
wouldn't
come
to
getting
referrals
for
the
file
for
fatherhood
programs
or
even
program
to
help
people
go
and
get
a
job
interview.
B
I
think
you
know
at
my
background
what
I
learned
as
a
kid
is:
people
perish
for
the
lack
of
knowledge,
and
so
part
of
this
process
is
making
sure
people
young
men,
have
the
proper
information,
so
they
can
make
smart
decisions
and,
more
importantly,
let
them
that
they
feel
that
they
are
supporting
and
is
processed.
And
so,
if
I
wasn't
elected,
I
would
still
be
organizing
on
the
mantle
of
peace,
not
guns
when
I'm.
In
my
own
spirit
time,
I'm
always
going
to
love
our
outreach
to
young
men
and
young.
A
B
A
Where
you
were
at
the
state,
the
city
of
Philadelphia
tried
to
pass
some
gun
legislation
in
Harrisburg
because
of
the
number
of
ended
up
overriding.
What
I
Philadelphia
tried
to
do
now
that
you're
its
console
talk
about
some
of
the
things
that
you're
trying
to
do
it
that
you
hope
to
accomplish,
and
then
some
of
the
difficulties
that
are
that
are
presented
by
the
fact
that
you
have
to
deal
with
Harrisburg,
possibly
overriding
what
you.
B
Bought
a
main
difficulty
is
that
we
don't
have
the
jurisdiction
to
create
our
own
gun
laws
and,
although
we
do
put
loss
and
we
introduced
just
at
the
end
of
the
day,
the
state
has
the
jurisdiction
to
override
our
law.
So
that
makes
it
difficult.
We
have
to
still
advocate
for
common
sense,
gun
laws.
We
have
to
still
put
out
there
the
issue
and
make
known
that
as
a
city,
we
will
not
retreat
on
the
issue
of
good
common
sense,
gun
laws
and
so
separate
from
that.
B
I
use
myself
as
an
example.
Somebody
took
some
time
with
me.
My
former
mentor
delete,
Hardy
whims
took
me
under
his
wing,
showed
me
the
difference
between
living,
a
life
of
crime
and
violence
to
focusing
on
politics
and
community.
Organizing
I
think
that's
good
for
young
people
to
hear
that
type
of
story.
There's.
A
What
do
you
think
the
difference
is
as
far
as
they're
being
attention
now
on
on
guns,
as
opposed
to
this
has
been
something
that's
been
ongoing,
particular
cities
like
Philadelphia
and
Chicago
yeah.
Why
hasn't
gotten
attention
in
the
past?
And
you
think,
because
of
the
new
attention
that
there
will
be
some
movement
forward
on
getting
gun
legislation?
Definitely.
B
Because
of
what
took
place
in
Sandy,
Hook
and
you're,
talking
about
children,
children
being
murdered,
obviously
put
a
spotlight
on
the
issue
of
gun
violence,
not
only
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia,
not
only
in
the
state
of
Pennsylvania,
but
also
throughout
America,
and
so
as
we
move
forward.
One
thing
that
present
rock
Obama
talked
about,
which
is
critical,
is
the
people
the
people
have
to
aggressively
advocate
for
common
sense,
gun
laws
throughout
this
country
and
the
more
people
that
step
up
and
and
an
advocate
demand
that
we
pass
common-sense
gun
laws.
B
That's
the
only
way
it's
going
to
be
effective
and
I
believe.
As
you
move
forward,
you
will
see
more
attention
on
this
issue
of
I'm
common
sense,
gun
laws
throughout
the
country,
Ravitz
assault,
weapons,
ban,
gravis,
universal
background
checks.
All
of
those
issues
will
be
on
the
forefront
as
you
move
forward
in
the
future,
but
one
that
I'm
very,
very
strongly
in
support
of
is
a
report
of
loss
and
stolen
guns.
There
are
no
gun
factories
in
point
breeze.
There's
no
gun
factories
in
Richard
Islands.
B
A
You
talk
about
moving
forward
and
getting
these
guns
off
the
street.
What
are
some
of
the
things
that
you
here?
As
far
as
resistance
goes,
you
know
the
NRA
has
been
very
aggressive
and
some
of
the
things
that
they've
put
out
in
wanting
to
protect
the
Second
Amendment.
What
has
what
has
been
some
of
the
pushback
that
you've
gotten
when
you
brought
these
subjects
up
well,.
B
B
If
a
gun
shows
up
and
a
homicide
and
the
murder,
you
should
be
required
to
report
that
gun,
missing
and
or
lost
I'll,
never
retreat
from
the
position
that
these
young
men
an
urban
neighborhoods
throughout
America
while
committing
these
murders,
and
these
homicides
did
not
go
into
the
store
to
purchase
these
guns
they're.
Getting
these
guns
from
somewhere
and
so
a
simple
law
is
just
requiring
you
to
report.
A
To
your
point,
a
few
years
ago,
there
was
a
gun
show
in
Valley
Forge,
which
is
there
annually.
There
was
a
person
there
who
went
and
bought
about
150
thousand
dollars
worth
of
weapons
stopped
at
a
diner
when
he
left
and
as
he
came
out
of
the
diner,
he
said
that
his
car
had
been
burglarized
and
all
150
thousand
dollars
worth
of
his
weapons
had
been
stolen
and
that's
the
end
of
that
story.
A
People
were
concerned
that
that's
an
example
of
someone
buying
guns
and
a
gun
show
coming
to
a
city
unloading
their
guns
illegally,
but
then
just
simply
saying
that
someone
stole
them
yeah,
that's
the
end
of
that.
Are
you
hearing
those
kinds
of
stories
and
are
you
concerned
about
the
gun,
shows
and
how
gun
shows
impact
the
flow
of
guns
into
cities?
Well,.
B
My
main
concern
is
is
going
after
those
from
Sully's
guns,
and
so,
if
you're
purchasing,
if
you're
purchasing
guns
from
gun,
shows
and
you're
selling
them
on
the
street,
then
the
federal
law
need
to
get
involved.
State
attorney
general's
office
need
to
get
involved
and
our
local
law
enforcement
need
to
get
involved
and
coordinated
strategy
where
you
choke
that
pipeline,
because
again
no
gun
factory
is
made
in
plain
priests,
no
gun
factories
are
inside
Richard,
Allen
and
so
I'm
always
going
after
choking
the
pipeline,
because
I
know
for
a
fact.
B
These
young
men
don't
go
into
a
regular
they're,
not
going
to
the
gun,
gun
shows
just
buying
these
guns,
and
a
lot
of
these
young
men
will
carry
carrying
these
guys.
Are
juveniles
wild
up
in
a
homicide,
and
so
for
me,
if
you
report
10,
20,
30
guns
missing
in
or
stolen,
you
should
be
out
accountable
as
to
ok.
You
know,
I
mean
just
think
about
it.
You
have
a
car,
and
some
are
I,
steal
your
car
and
run
someone
else
over
you're
held
accountable.
A
Is
some
concern
by
folks
who
are
supporters
of
the
Second
Amendment
in
full
that
this
kind
of
legislation
is
going
to
lead
to
either
registries
in
which
they'll
have
to
be
accounted
for
by
the
government
or
the
folks
will
literally
take
their
guns
away
and
take
their
rights
away?
What
do
you
say
to
folks
who
have
those
concerns
about
their
second
Amendment
rights
being
infringed
upon
in
order
to
pass
this
gun
legislation?
Well,.
B
I
think
it's
the
responsible
thing
they're
doing
so
I
mean
people
want
to
come
up
with
all
types
of
arguments
and
or
opinions
on
the
issue,
but
I
believe
that
if
you
want
to
live
in
a
society,
that's
safe,
simple,
common-sense
gun
law
as
universal
background
checks
to
report,
applause
and
stolen
guns,
and
that
has
nothing
to
do
with
taking
the
gun
away
from
you.
You.
A
Know
also
not
that
long
ago
there
was
an
incident
where
men
opened
fire
on
a
septa
bus.
The
mayor
in
turn
made
a
public
declaration
and
had
some
strong
words
did
you
agree
with
the
mayor
in
his
actions
and
what
do
you
think
about
when
those
kinds
of
violence,
violent
actions
happen
out
in
the
open,
like
that?
What
do
you
think
that
says
about
our
city?
Well,.
B
First
and
foremost,
we
have
to
make
the
issue
of
crime
and
gum
balls.
Our
number
one
priority:
I,
don't
condone
any
acts
of
violence,
specifically
gun
violence,
because
my
number
one
priority
is
make
sure
my
constituents
are
safe.
I
have
nieces,
I,
have
nephews,
have
a
grandmother
going
to
and
from
home,
and
so
I'm
always
going
to
make
sure
that
safety
is
a
priority
in
this
process.
B
I
believe
that
we
have
to
put
more
resources
behind
making
sure
that
young
men
don't
make
stupid
boneheaded
decisions
such
as
the
young
men
who
shot
up
the
actual
septa
bus,
and
so
we
want
to
focus
on
making
sure
that
we
start
while
they're
young
give
young
people
to
resources
to
make
positive
decisions.
So
we
don't
end
up
in
situations
where
people
are
picking
guns
over
education.
Young
men
are
picking
guns
over
employment
and
I
think
collectively
as
a
society.
We
all
have
a
stick
to
play
then
making
sure
that
the
city
is
safe.
Do.
A
You
think
that
communities
are
doing
enough
themselves
with
folks
interacting
within
the
community
to
help
make
sure
that
this
is
the
case.
Or
are
you
finding
that
sometimes
the
community
is
resistant
to
some
of
the
efforts
that
you're
making,
either
in
the
grassroots
level
or
from
a
legislative
level?
No.
B
Primarily
when
I
go
out
and
I'm
done,
cleaning
organizing
or
someone
gets
murdered
well
we're
doing
a
March
or
a
prayer
vigil
from
the
youngest
person
to
a
senior
citizen.
You
all
hear
the
same
message
and
that's
message
that
people
want
to
live
in.
The
communities
that
are
safe,
p
want
to
live
in
communities
that
focus
on
peace
and
not
guns,
and
so
that's
been
my
experience
on
rather
than
playing
breeze
or
my
Eastwick
matter
of
fact.
B
Just
last
week
I
participated
in
a
prayer
vigil
a
rally
filled
with
all
young
people,
and
so,
at
the
end
of
the
day,
I
believe
everyone
want
to
live
in
an
environment,
that's
safe,
that's
their
safe
and
peaceful,
but
you
want
to
have
some
bad
apples.
That's
gonna!
That's
going
to
basically
raise
havoc
on
the
community
as
a
whole
and
they
should
be
dealt
with
accordingly.
A
B
Collectively
it's
the
Philadelphia
problem
and
we
all
have
a
role
to
play:
I
mean
if
you
don't
have
a
safe
city
than
business,
can't
thrive.
If
you
don't
have
a
safe
city,
then
people
are
going
to
opt
out
our
educational
system
because
no
one
wants
to
send
their
kids
to
an
unsaved,
school
and
so
I
believe
collectively.
B
A
B
We
have
to
always
advocate
for
additional
resources,
but
also,
let's
look
at
what
we
have.
It
doesn't
take
a
lot
to
organize
people
who
want
change
in
your
community
to
go
out
to
make
sure
you
provide
information
to
young
men,
young
lady,
so
they
can
be
become
productive
members
of
society,
so
I'm
from
a
generation
that
they're
focused
on
becoming
heroes
and
she
rose
with
less
people.
B
A
generation
of
people
that
didn't
have
the
iphone
didn't
have
the
internet,
but
built
leaders
such
as
charles,
drew,
frederick
douglass,
fannie
lou,
hamer,
shirley,
Chisholm
and
so
I
believe
in
old-school,
grassroots
organizing.
It
doesn't
take
money
to
mentor
person,
it
doesn't
take
money
that
take
the
village
mentality
and
the
village
approach
that
you're
responsible
for
everyone
within
your
own,
collect
within
your
own
collective
circle,
and
so
that's
always
been
my
approach.
So
I
didn't
let
the
lack
of
resources.
B
Stop
me
from
entering
a
young
person
having
close
to
five
or
six
interns
inside
my
office
that
doesn't
cost
anything
the
mentor,
someone
let
them
come
down.
City
Council
or
look
at
the
process
of
government
participate
in
our
caucus
hearings
and
so
for
me
I'm.
Obviously
we
want
more
resources,
but
I
don't
use
it
as
an
excuse
to
not
organized
and
mentor
and
inspire
someone
to
stay
on
the
right
path.
You're.
A
B
For
the
most
part,
you
know
the
legislative
agenda
I
put
forth
I've
always
been
an
advocate
when
it
come
to
the
issuer.
You've
come
violence.
I've
always
been
an
advocate
when
it
comes
to
making
sure
that
all
young
people
get
a
quality.
Education
always
been
an
advocate
when
it
come
to
making
sure
that
everyone
has
an
opportunity
to
live
in
a
decent
home
when
it
comes
to
get
you
up,
affordable
housing,
and
so
that's
far,
I'm
enjoying
myself
and
I've
been
long
receive.
It's
good
to.
B
Obviously,
the
number
one
hot
issue
right
now
is
making
sure
that
we
get
a
be
undone
right.
Make
sure
that
people
who
will
see
an
influx
in
their
property
taxes
understand
that
in
this
process,
we
are
advocating
to
make
sure
that
those
assessments
are
our
fair
and
accurate
and,
more
importantly,
move
forward
on.
As
a
city.
We
have
to
make
sure
that
we
keep
the
issue.
You
have
gun
violence,
on
the
forefront
with
resources
with
outreach
and
making
sure
that
all
young
people
have
an
opportunity
to
live
productive
lives
for.