The Town of Plymouth took a bold step this past weekend, with Mayor Crystal Davis declaring a State of Emergency ahead of a planned “Downtown Plymouth Takeover” being promoted across social media platforms.
The proclamation, signed by Mayor Davis, temporarily prohibits anyone under the age of 18 from being in Plymouth’s downtown area between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., beginning Friday, June 26, and running through Monday, June 29. It’s a firm, targeted response — and the right one.
“Teen takeovers” are social media-organized flash mob events in which large groups of teenagers converge with out warning on public spaces — beaches, shopping malls, downtown corridors — often with little regard for the communities they descend upon. The results have ranged from disruptive to dangerous, with incidents of violence, property damage, and overwhelmed local law enforcement playing out in cities across the country.
Consequences for anyone under 18 violating the procla mation include misdemeanor charges.
And I’ll say it — if you’re participating in this nonsense, then you need to get a life, maybe focus on some goals, put your phone down and stop riding the PlayStation while binge eating Hot Pockets on your parents’ couch at 3 a.m.
And no, the curfew isn’t some form of government overreach. I loathe the government more than most, but even I’ll contend that supporting the right to gather for public disorder with the potential for mayhem is a moron’s argument.
Rather than waiting to find out what flash mob might do, the Town, Mayor Davis, and the Plymouth Police Department made their position unambiguous in a joint statement: this event will not happen here.
That kind of clear, coordinated communication matters. It puts organizers, participants, and parents on notice.
While I may not agree with Mayor Davis on some things — though I think we share a lot of common ground on some issues — establishing a temporary juvenile curfew in its downtown area this weekend in response to an unauthorized gathering being promoted on social media is a strong leadership.
The same thing can be said for Greenville Mayor PJ Connelly, who enacted similar curfew restrictions.
Saturday, people of faith gathered to pray for law enforcement, teenagers and the community in downtown Greenville.
Decisive, temporary measures that protect public safety and preserve the character of a downtown community represent exactly the kind of lead ership residents should expect from their elected officials.
Whatever one thinks of the particulars, Plymouth acted — and acted early.