A resolution encouraging Philadelphian's to observe February 1st 2006 as a day of private meditation and prayer in the hope that 2006 will be blessed to have a reduced murder rate.

WHEREAS, 2005 will forever be stained by a string of 380 murders that commenced with a nineteen (19) year old boy named Terrance on January 1st and ended with a twenty one (21) year old man named Isaac on December 31st ; and

WHEREAS, The 380 homicides in 2005 represent a significant increase over the 2004 total, one of the largest increases in any large American city from 2004 to 2005; and

WHEREAS, Forty-six (46) of those murders were in the 7th Council District, with nine (9) in the month of December; and

WHEREAS, The

Philadelphia Daily News

published a compelling January 13th article detailing the names and age of the victims ranging from a one (1) year old child named Ryan on January 17th to an eighty six (86) year old man named Woodrow on November 11th ; and

WHEREAS, There were one hundred and thirty eight (138) non-fatal gunshot victims in 2005; and

WHEREAS, It is only the Grace of God that these one hundred and thirty eight (138) non-fatal shootings did not push our murder toll to five hundred and eighteen (518); and

WHEREAS, In 2006 we continue the bloody trend of 2005 with 20 homicides in 22 days as of January 22, 2006; now therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the City Council of the City of Philadelphia encourages all Philadelphian's to observe February 1st as a day of private meditation and prayer.

End