------------------------- Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the June 7, 2001 issue of Workers World newspaper ------------------------- CINCINNATI, OHIO: SUPPORT GROWS FOR JUNE 2 MARCH FOR JUSTICE By Sharon Ayling Thousands of people from Cincinnati and around the country are expected in that city June 2 for a March for Justice in solidarity with Cincinnati's African American community and in opposition to racism and police brutality. Since the police killing of unarmed Black teenager Timothy Thomas in early April and the days of protests and rebellion that followed, Cincinnati has become a focus of anti-racist activity. Thomas was the 15th Black male killed by Cincinnati cops since 1995. A newly formed coalition of Cincinnati organizations and individuals has called for a mass March for Justice on June 2 as part of three days of education and protest. This coalition began as an anti-globalization coalition formed last fall. The march is significant because it broadens support from beyond Cincinnati itself for the Black community and because it is the first time the new post-Seattle youth movement is joining an action in direct solidarity with an African American struggle. Thomas' mother, Angela Leisure, will help lead the march and will speak at the rally along with Rev. Damon Lynch III, pastor of the New Prospect Baptist Church and a local civil rights leader. After declaring they would refuse a march permit to the March for Justice organizers, the city authorities finally had to reverse themselves and on May 29 granted the permit. March organizers have declared this a victory. The March for Justice calls on the city to: Stop police killings and the abuse of police power, end the police department's racist patterns and practices, and build social and economic justice. Over 50 groups, community centers, union locals, churches, and prominent individuals are endorsing and building the march. The June 2 March for Justice will gather at 11 am at Fountain Square at 5th and Vine in downtown Cincinnati. The march will end in Laurel Park, where it will join an annual event celebrating the memory of Rev. Maurice McCrackin, Cincinnati's most prominent practitioner of civil disobedience for nearly a half century. Police have continued to insist they will use their "tools"-- tear gas, chemical spray, shot guns loaded with "bean bags," 40-millimeter "foam rounds" -- against the anti-racist demonstrators if they decide it's "necessary." The police used these weapons during the April rebellion against unarmed and often non-resisting protesters. Despite this attempt at intimidation, support for the march is growing. The Cincinnati organizers hope that this march will be a strong expression of unity against racism. "We think that the most important thing people can do in Cincinnati is show that there are white and black people together who are opposed to the racist behavior of the police department and the city government," says Dan La Botz, a coalition spokesperson. The coalition's call reads in part: "We will have a series of educational events and peaceful protests on June 1-3, with a mass, legal, peaceful march for justice on June 2 at the center of these events. We invite the residents of Cincinnati and people from around the country to come to Cincinnati to protest the killing of Timothy Thomas." One of the groups coming from around the country is the International Action Center, which expects to bring 100 people from at least 10 cities. IAC representative Gery Armsby, in Cincinnati to help organize the march, said his group "is mobilizing its forces to build this very important demonstration in solidarity with the Black community here." Armsby called on people across the country to "join us to demand an end to racist police terror, immediate release and amnesty for all those arrested here in April, and freedom for political prisoner and death-row inmate Mumia Abu- Jamal." Some of the anti-globalization collectives are calling for a mass convergence after the march in an upper class white neighborhood. They are expecting hundreds of people to participate in civil disobedience actions, with mass arrests likely. Their call reads in part, "While we stand in support with those who put out the call for this march, as well with those who started the rebellion on April 9, 2001, we also find it imperative to place active pressure on spaces and institutions of privilege... With this action we hope to send a message of solidarity to the communities in struggle. ... On June 2nd we call for a convergence into Hyde Park. Hyde Park is a high traffic, high income, corporate retail business area." Cincinnati's Black community and its supporters have continued to struggle against racism on a daily and weekly basis. Over the Memorial Day weekend, Rev. Lynch and other ministers making up the Group of Concerned Clergy called for a boycott of the Chamber of Commerce-sponsored street festival to protest Thomas' killing. The Black and white crowd circled the four-block event for hours over the three- day holiday. The crowd of more than 200 carried signs calling for an end to police brutality, chanted "No justice, no peace, no racist police," and handed out flyers from Black Youth Against Civil Injustice. Regarding the hundreds of Black youth arrested during the rebellion, Sahith Wickrama of the legal support group told Workers World that there are about 50 people still in jail. Some 62 people face felony charges, and one has already been convicted of a felony. But the support for the prisoners also continues. Supporters hold rallies at the city jail every Friday. Among the demands raised is amnesty for all the prisoners taken during the rebellion. - END - (Copyright Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but changing it is not allowed. For more information contact Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For subscription info send message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.workers.org) ------------------ This message is sent to you by Workers World News Service. To subscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Send administrative queries to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
