South Street curfew criminalizes normal youth behavior | Opinion

Last week, Philadelphia police announced that they’d begin enforcing a curfew for minors along the popular South Street corridor. Minors 13 and older need to be home by 10:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and midnight Friday and Saturday. For those under 13, the curfew is 9:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

The South Street corridor youth curfew criminalizes normal youth behavior and harshly exposes youths and their families to steep penalties and long-lasting legal ramifications. With enforcement focused on an area where many black and brown youths spend their time, this curfew unfairly targets and disparately impacts young people of color from poor families.