Jenice Armstrong: Weeks after Ramadan shooting, site is reclaimed by food trucks, kid races and pony rides

PHILADELPHIA — On Saturday morning, I told my husband I was heading to the park. Be careful, he told me.

His concern wasn’t totally ungrounded. I was heading to Clara Muhammad Square in the 4700 block of Lancaster Avenue in West Philadelphia, the site of a shooting that took place only weeks ago. At what was meant to be a joyous occasion — an afternoon celebration of the end of the Ramadan fast — at least 30 shots rang out in a crowd of hundreds of people, leaving three injured.

Police arrested one adult and four juveniles; all will be charged as adults.

The incident has shaken Philadelphia’s Muslim community — a population of roughly 300,000 — and created psychic scars that will take a long time to heal.

Last Saturday was meant to help the community start that long walk to recovery. The Philadelphia Masjid, across from Clara Muhammad Square, hosted a community day replete with food, vendors, and counseling services.

To anyone driving past, the event might look like any of the community gatherings that make Philly such a great place in the summer. But I was taken aback by all the yellow police tape circling Clara Muhammad Square. It reminded me of that awful day.

As I approached the area, someone walked over and asked me to open my bag so he could inspect it for a weapon. Members of the Philadelphia Police Department stood guard around the park and masjid.

Once inside the cordoned off area, I steered clear of the black-clad security personnel carrying automatic rifles and wearing body armor roaming the grounds. Inside the mosque itself, there was even more heavy security, with male members stationed at the door and others gathered in a room off to the side watching multiple security camera screens.

Yet even with all of the law enforcement on display, it was a happy affair.

I watched elementary school children participate in an old-fashioned potato sack race. There were pony and horseback rides. Vendors set up on sidewalks sold jewelry, crocheted hats, henna tattoo services, and homemade cheesecake. People lined up at the Fish Jawn and Siddiq’s Water Ice food trucks. Politicians shook hands.

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