Operation Hug the Block’s Uptown Chapter has formed and will begin patrolling this month

In response to the tragic shooting of teenager Semaj Fields in Germantown, deli manager Justin Harris, also known as “The Hoagie Guy with the Tie,” took action, initiating the Operation Hug The Block—Uptown Chapter. This community-led initiative, inspired by the work of Philly Truce, aims to combat gun violence through nightly patrols and engagement starting April 18, 2024.

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Yo, Put the Gun Down, a hip-hop musical symphony with a mission, set to return in East Germantown 

Yo! Put the Gun Down, a hip-hop musical symphony, returns to East Germantown this April. Created by Douglas Rucker, with music by Jon Savant and direction by Jon Graves, and featuring rap and poetry by RA Certified, the show remains committed to ending gun violence. Proceeds will support the construction of a youth center named after Laron “LJ” Williams, a victim of gun violence.

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