Residents On High Alert After A String Of Attacks In Philadelphia
By Natasha Brown
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Images of violence are one thing -- glimpses of crimes in progress, like released video of a violent robbery in Old City on April 8, or surveillance of an attempted rape in South Philly a week ago -- but nothing speaks louder than the voice of a victim.
"I was running and someone just grabbed my behind," said Kathy Mirano. "They were like 13-years-old, maybe 16-years-old, so this has to stop."
Mirano's attack happened in broad daylight. She was one of many people gathered for a meeting at City Hall to discuss recent violent incidents along the Schuylkill River Trail. Runners, walkers and bikers were learning how to protect themselves in a setting meant to be peaceful.
Lawrence Whitaker has been practicing martial arts for 30 years.
He teaches self defense classes at Urban Defense Center in Spring Garden and shows people the basics of protecting themselves.
Whitaker, a South Philly native, knows all too well how tough city streets can be.
"If we can train more people, more people will have more information," Whitaker said. "Then they won't be as scared. At least they'll have some options for their life."
Whether it's finding an attackers weaknesses, or evading an attack, self defense builds confidence at a time when you never know when you might become a victim.
"That person that's trained is better than a person that's not trained," Whitaker said. It explained that it is better to have the training and not need it.
