That 14th Dist. Observation you made was Isolated/throwback incident...I have watched our community come thru the 1950's and 60's when Black Folks could not eat a hot dog at Woolworth's Lunch Counter at Germantown and Chelten. The real shame in our community is the escalating poverty and murders in the NW Area. Bill Simon- Human Services Consultant - PPGSG,Inc., Block Capt. Unit Block of Montana St.

What makes our neighborhoods (unfortunately) unique is the willingness, even more so, the desire of the residents to live in a racially mixed area. I don't think you can read much into an anecdotal incident involving a pretty clearly disturbed individual. I am a bit surprised, though, that the police did not take him back for some, er, "discussions."

I would have to say this seems like an extreme incident, but I wouldn't say isolated. As the white half of an interracial couple I see the subtleties of racism pop up often in Philadelphia and beyond. After five years in this relationship I no longer try to justify why something happened or why someone acted the way they did. We have a long way to go and many ignorant people to beware of. Thankfully we have moved forward in leaps and bounds from the past but we have not moved beyond racism. It comes in many different forms and travels in all directions. Thankfully the NW corridor is diverse. We are proud to have moved here and look forward to its future.

He wanted to speak to the Mayor or the President, but only a white person? Was he going to be in for a shock!

This is the type of person that should be taken back and questioned! With everything going on in this country with unstable people shooting up public spaces, someone so blatantly disturbed who walks into a police station trying to cause a problem shouldn't have been just ignored.

LOL.. Who gives a crap about this? How do you even take the time to sit down and write about this? I'm sure you were shaking in your boots as the "Big Bad White Racist" went off on the poor innocent black lady. Right then and there you knew that you were a nice, upstanding, little liberal do-gooder. Zach.. hahaha Christ..

I know! I have an idea! Why don't you turn this into an epic novel or movie? You can go into the backgrounds of all the poeple involved. You can talk about their upbringings. Paint the man as a sadistic pedophile who hunts children down because of his own past history, during his childhood, as a rape victim. Better yet, make it his own father who raped him. A slightly overweight, beer-bellied, stubble-faced white man will do. Make sure you get a lot of shots with him in a lazy-boy couch, holding a can of Budweiser. Then, make sure you pepper the story with nice brown people who are constantly spewing "wisdom". At the very end, make sure that this racist man encounters some sort of tragedy of his own, that makes him realize that he was wrong all along, and that we are all the same. What do you think? Are you going to do it? If you do, you'll definitely get praise from every other jackass in Hollywood who has thought up the same script. LOL God i hate what this country has become because of people like you. Why don't you liberal hippies all move to Cuba with Rachel Maddow, Chris Matthews, and every professor that works at a public University.

"Get me the mayor. Get me the president!"

That's rich. Shoulda rounded up a stray dog for "his own kind."

And "Peter Johnson." That's rich, too. And you can call me "Dick Pole."

Okay, "Dick Pole". Thanks for the reply.

Kudos 2 kops 4 keepin kool! This country is definitely full of hateful, unstable individuals. (LOL)

What would have happened had the individual been Black and the Officer white? Hmmmmm?

Add together all the “isolated incidents” overheard in private conversations in public places, encountered in restaurants or shops and in the news, and they create a chain of experiences that not only insults one’s sensibilities, but affects one’s very sense of safety and self worth. Because these incidents are so random and unexpected, they hit the heart hard and chip away at one’s peace. For those toward whom they are directed, and for citizens like the author of this article, they at first seem absurd but later settle into the soul. Like a sight once seen cannot be unseen, they are words that cannot be unheard and a particular pain that cannot be unfelt. While it is not 1950’s Alabama, it can more often than it should, feel reminiscent, despite our country’s advancements.

I thank the author for sharing this. My heart goes out to him, the officer whose life was interrupted by this isolated incident, her coworkers, and to the offending individual whom if ill, I hope receives the treatment he requires. Unfortunately, nothing will stop such incidents until they are seen for the hateful acts that they are. They cannot be passed off as incidental or swept under a rug; we’ve learned that the rug gets so bumpy that it trips us all. The stories must be told and heard. We must collectively be offended and outraged when we hear them and collectively sympathetic and kind to those involved. Maybe caring will ease the pain and help restore a sense of safety, for us all.

Zach Subar... Don't you have a Trayvon Martin rally to go to or something? Quit bitching and moaning online about some terrifying moment you had at the police station while you pocket-dialed your Mommy out of fear of the Big Bad Racist Latin man. You are the one that sounds racist against latinos. Do us all a favor and stop writing articles. First of all, your grammar is awful. Secondly, after reading this article, the majority of readers are more than confident that you are a pathetic virgin.

"AngryBlackMan", you are either my absolute hero, or are living proof of every point i've ever made.

Zubar? Can you please boot "AngryBlackMan" from the commentary section for posting hateful material?

I would like to see this conversation stay at an intellectual level. The point that Mr. Zulbar makes is a very real and valid one in 2012. Sadly there are hundreds of examples of this quiet racism going on everyday, and people that we brought over in shackles and kept in the bowels of ships for days are still being degraded. The thing is that in today's day and age this should no longer be acceptable. These acts like asking for a cop of ones own color are no different whether it is a person of color or not. All men were created equal, and therefore should be treated equally with dignity. This is a dispicable act. Let us not forget the past lest we be less of men.

Profanity in comments violates our terms of use, as do comments that promote racism or bigotry. So I've removed any comments that violate those terms. Please, please, please keep it civil down here.

Peter Johnson-
While we appreciate you using Patch to share your opinion, please refrain from insulting others who comment here, or the author of this article.
If you had the pleasure of meeting Zach, you would feel differently, I promise you.
Either way, we try to maintain civility in these forums. Please refrain from insults and name-calling.

Frankly, that's probably why people are so disillusioned with the left. The Democratic Party is always scratching it's head wondering why middle class white Americans flock to the republican party in hordes, each and every election cycle, despite the fact that Republicans policies often cater to the rich. The reason is simple. People like Zach make it so that they would rather vote against their own interests, then with any party that even remotely resembles a liberal or progressive agenda.