Protesters yell at police at 13th and Republic Wednesday afternoon. (Tony Jones photo) | ZOOM |

        There was no repeat of Tuesday's violence during the daylight hours today even as angry people filled the streets of Over-the-Rhine and continued their protests against Saturday's fatal police shooting of an unarmed black man.

        Protesters marched orderly and peacefully - a stark contrast to the mayhem of Tuesday - after fervent pleas for calm from the shooting victim's mother and church and community leaders.

        About 3:30 p.m., at 13th and Republic streets in Over-the-Rhine, a crowd of about 300 began marching through the neighborhood, some shouting obscenities at nearby police.

        The marchers were met by about 10 members of the Cincinnati Black United Front, who were walking through Over-the-Rhine in an attempt to calm emotions.

A masked protester holds a sign in the 100 block of Central Parkway West as protesters confronted a line of mounted police. (Gary Landers photo) | ZOOM |

        While protesters were talking to Black United Front, police formed a blockade at 13th and Vine streets. The crowd surged toward the officers, but CBUF members clasped hands across the roadway and placed themselves between protesters and police as Rev. Damon Lynch III, pastor of New Prospect Baptist Church, and other ministers talked to police.

        While the two sides talked, protesters yelled, “No justice, no peace” and “Don't shoot me.”

        Police eventually agreed to withdraw from the corner of 13th and Vine, and let protesters enter Vine Street in an attempt to march to New Prospect Baptist Church at 18th and Elm streets.

Elaine Coffy-Vinson corrals her son as he runs in front of a line of mounted police. (Gary Landers photo) | ZOOM |

        The violence of Tuesday and the community anger over deaths of black males at the hands of police have drawn the attention of national civil rights leaders.

        At a press conference in Evanston, NAACP field operations director Nelson B. Rivers III said NAACP president Kwesi Mfume will hold a town meeting from 6-8 p.m. Thursday at New Friendship Baptist Church 3212 Reading Road in Avondale, after spending the day meeting with local officials.

        Mr. Rivers said he was called by Mr. Mfume and told to come to Cincinnati. Mr. Mfume became concerned after watching the violence on national television, Mr. Rivers said.

Angela Leisure, mother of Timothy Thomas, shot to death by police Saturday, went on WIZ/Buzz radio today to ask for calm. (Tony Jones photo) | ZOOM |

        Angela Leisure, mother of Timothy Thomas, the 19-year-old shot to death, reiterated her call for calm Wednesday in a visit to WDBZ-AM, an African-American talk radio station.

        “Stop,” she told listeners of the Jay Love show. “Because there's nothing good going to come from this.

        “A lot of innocent people are getting hurt, and it's not going to bring my son back,” said the Golf Manor woman. “They're not going to listen if you speak in anger, if you act in anger. It will give them an excuse to hurt someone else.”

A "Closed" sign at the Crossroad Health Center at Liberty and Vine Streets adds: "Please pray for our city." (Glenn Hartong photo) | ZOOM |

        The pleas for calm came after a night unlike anything the city has seen since rioting leveled much of Avondale after the killing of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968. Flames and vandalism spread through parts of downtown Cincinnati and nearby neighborhoods Tuesday as anger turned to violence. (Map of violence)

        Cincinnati police in riot gear used tear gas and fired rubber projectiles and bean bags filled with metal pellets to try to control people who smashed store windows, overturned trash cans and threw bottles and bricks.

        Widespread looting was reported Tuesday night.

        Police made 66 arrests and the Cincinnati Fire Division made 53 runs. Eleven fires, most of them minor, were set in Over-the-Rhine during the disturbances.

Violence subsides, protests continue
Grand jury will probe shooting
Luken offers support to damaged areas
Report on Tuesday's violence
Photo gallery
Map of affected area