National Night Out brings neighbors out in force

Tuesday night marked the 29th National Night Out against violence, coordinated by the National Town Watch in cities around the country. The event aims to get neighbors to turn out and turn on their porch lights to stand up to violence and criminal activity in their neighborhoods.

Quetzy Lozada, aide to Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez, quizzed children on safety trivia in Kensington’s Fairhill Park. The group talked about the proper terms for law enforcement.

“They’re not called cops. What are they called?” said Lozada.

“Police officers,” the group responded.

“We call them police officers because we have to show them what?”

“Respect.”

There were discarded dime bags on the ground around the table where police handed out water ice and coloring books about safety.

“They talk to your mommies and daddies about what do you do if you see crime and what do you do if you see bad things in your neighborhoods,” explained Lozada. “That’s what National Night Out is.”

Organizers held events in dozens of locations around Philadelphia, Camden, and towns throughout the region.