Fwd: Mobilize Solidarity -- Cincinnati Write-up
Yoshie Furuhashi
furuhashi.1 at osu.edu
Fri Apr 13 06:44:53 PDT 2001
>Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2001 08:38:34 EDT
>Reply-To: OpenMinds9 at aol.com
>Sender: owner-serj at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
>To: <columbusnetwork at listbot.com>, <cusas at listbot.com>,
><serj at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu>, <radicalartsgathering at yahoo.com>
>Subject: CALL TO MOBILIZE SOLIDARITY, Cincinnati Write-up
>
>THE FOLLOWING IS A WRITE-UP COLLABORATED BY VARIOUS CITIZENS OF
>CINCINNATI, OHIO. PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE EMAIL, DISTRIBUTE WIDELY
>(apologies for cross posting), SPREAD THE WORD, SHOW YOUR
>SOLIDARITY, MOBILIZE!
>
>Since 1995, fourteen black men have been murdered by the Cincinnati
>Ohio police, four of which have occured since November 2000. One of
>those four, Roger Ownesbury, was murdered when officers thought he
>"looked like someone they were looking for." Witnesses reported
>that the officers handcuffed Roger, picked him up by his arms and
>slammed his head and neck into the concrete. Reports say that
>chemical irritants were used, but that he died of asfictiation of
>unknown causes. On Saturday, April 7th, 2001, another unarmed young
>black male was added to that total. Around 2 a.m., nineteen year
>old Timothy Thomas was murdered by Officer Roach of the Cincinnati
>police.
>
>From the police car video tape, Officer Roach is shown runnning at
>full speed when he shot and killed Timothy in a dead end ally.
>Timothy was being chased because the officer recognized him as
>having fourteen warrents out for his arrest, all of which were
>misdimeanor traffic infractions(a point that the mainstream media
>and police fail to address).
>
>Today, April 12th, five days after Timothy's murder, the streets of
>Cincinnati are still filled with protestors looking for answers and
>justice. Over the last three days, a number of businesses have been
>looted and some set to fire. Cincinnati Mayor Charlie Luken, the
>mainstream media, City Council members, as well as many others, see
>no connection between those in the streets today, and those who were
>in City Council chambers Monday, the 9th, demanding answers to
>Saturday's shooting.
>
>After receiving no solutions or answers from city officials, folks
>have gone to the streets to hit Cincinnati where they will feel it
>the most -- "the pocketbook." What we have been seeing on the
>streets is a direct result of the racism that exists in city
>policies and government. If Cincinnati officials were committed to
>resolving any of these issues, they would have called for an
>immediate community forum to address the recent shooting, the
>ongoing racist policies, and the relations between the police and
>community. Instead, Mayor Luken walked out of the city council
>meeting on Monday, the 9th, and cancelled a city council meeting for
>Wednesday the 11th.
>
>Mayor Luken did not declare a state of emergency until later
>Wednesday night when a police officer was shot (but not killed or
>even wounded). The Mayor then called for the protection of the city
>streets and the citizens, with the possibility of activating the
>national guard. The question needs to be asked, for whom is he
>establishing protection for? There is no coincidence that a state
>of emergency was not called when Timothy Thomas was shot and killed.
>The Mayor and other elected city officials have called the current
>protestors, "thugs and a threat to the safety of Cincinnati's
>citizens." Once again, the question is, which citizens? Mayor
>Luken has not described the police department as thugs or a threat
>to the citizens of Cincinnati. It should not be easy to overlook
>the fact that the police force has admitted to racial profiling, and
>many citizens from Cincinnati communities have and continue to
>testify to numerous accounts of excessive force, violence,
>aggression, and intimidation used by the police.
>
>So, what to do?
>* Stop the silence! Spread the word! We need to stand in solidarity
>for those fighting for justice!
>* MOBILIZE TO CINCINNATI, THIS SATURDAY, APRIL 14TH!!! Various
>communities have called for solidarity and to protest police
>violence. The Black United Front in Cincinnati will be holding a
>rally at Findlay Market in Over the Rhine, Cincinnati at 2pm this
>Saturday, April 14th -- immediately after Timothy Thomas's funeral.
>Call voicemall number 614.823.4100 for details. (Check voicemail
>frequently, please be patient with access to information)
>* Send $ to the Memorial Fund for Timothy Thomas. All funds will
>go towards funeral expenses and the rest will go towards Timothy's 3
>month old son. Please send to: 5/3 Bank, 705 Central Ave.,
>Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. Make checks out to 5/3 Bank with the Memo
>line: Timothy Thomas Memorial Fund.
>* Call Cincinnati Mayor Charlie Luken and City Hall -- let them
>know that racist politics, police brutality, and continous social
>and economic injustice will not be tolerated!!! Mayor Charlie
>Luken: 513.352.3250 City Hall:513.352.5200
>
>
>FOR UPDATES AND PHOTOS, SEE:
>
>CINCINOW
>http://www.cincinow.com
>OHIO VALLEY INDYMEDIA
>http://ohiovalleyimc.org
>CHANNEL CINCINATI
>http://www.channelcincinnati.com
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