Enquirer News Update - Updated 6:40 p.m.
City braces for curfew;
Bush administration gets involved
By Howard Wilkinson
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Even as Cincinnati breathed easier Friday morning after passing
through a peaceful night, the city's police braced for a second night
of the citywide curfew and leaders on various sides of the issues
made their case to members of the national and international news
media in town today.
Among the latest developments:
There were indications Friday afternoon that the Bush
administration is taking the situation seriously - U.S. Attorney
General John Ashcroft contacted Cincinnati Mayor Charlie Luken by fax
Friday afternoon to say that the Justice Department is sending a team
of lawyers to help "bring calm to the situation.''
Thursday night's citywide curfew - the first the city has seen in
over 30 years - was credited for a night of relative tranquility, a
stark contrast to the two previous nights of rioting, looting and
confrontations in many city neighborhoods.
City officials say the 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew would continue
Friday night and for as long as necessary.
Police Chief Thomas Streicher said police informants have told him
to expect violence tonight and after tomorrow's funeral for Mr.
Timothy Thomas, shot and killed by a police officer last weekend -
the 15th black male to die in police custody or while being arrested
in the past six years.
"Saturday is going to be a crucial day," he said. "We look for
Saturday to be a potential turning point for us in this whole
event.''
Cincinnati's streets had a ghostly, unreal aspect overnight. It
may have been unsettling for the thousands confined to their homes
until early Friday morning, but it served its intended purpose.
"It went exceptionally well, much beyond our expectations,''
Chief Streicher said Friday. "All in all, it was very quiet.''
Instead of mass arrests for rioting, looting and assaults, last
night's arrests were mostly for curfew violations.
There were 136 people taken in for curfew violations overnight,
including adults and juveniles. About 50 of them were arraigned in
Hamilton County Municipal Court.
Most pled no contest to the charge and received a day in jail
suspended if they had no record. Others with a police record received
up to 10 days in prison.
While city officials were reviewing Thursday night's successful
effort and planning for Friday night, Queen City Fraternal Order of
Police president Keith Fangman was holding a press conference to
respond to accusations by black leaders that Cincinnati police
officers target black males.
Mr. Fangman said the public does not understand that 10 of the 15
African-American men shot and killed by police were armed and had
either pointed a gun or fired it at police officers.
"We are not some band of rogue Nazis hunting down and killing
black men,'' Mr. Fangman said. "That's an unfair characterization.''
Mayor Charlie Luken ordered the curfew Thursday morning after the
city reeled from violence and rioting.
Kenneth Lawson, lawyer for Timothy Thomas' mother, said Friday
that police in Cincinnati have abused blacks for years. This week,
when black rioters randomly attacked whites, officials acted, Mr.
Lawson said.
"The majority sees how it feels to be targeted because of your
skin color,'' he said.
Chief Streicher said he was pleased with community response,
except for one case of arson.
"We had some trouble in Kennedy Heights,'' the chief said. A fire
that caused $100,000 damage was set late last night at the Redwood
Carry on Woodford Road.
Cincinnati police were aided by the presence of 125 riot-trained
Ohio Highway Patrol officers, and more may arrive today. Hamilton
County sheriff's deputies also helped handle calls, to free up
Cincinnati police dealing with the neighborhoods where rioting had
occurred.
This morning the fire department declared most of Over-the-Rhine -
from north of 12th Street to District 5 headquarters in Clifton, and
from Reading Road west to Interstate 75 - a "hot zone.'' It is an
area where fire-fighters and emergency medical units will only answer
calls in the zone if they are accompanied by a police escort.
All Metro bus service continues to observe the curfew. All trips
scheduled to leave downtown after 7:30 p.m. are cancelled; all buses
scheduled to arrive after 8:10 p.m. are cancelled. Metro service is
affected because all routes operate in the city of Cincinnati during
at least some part of their trip.
Major League Baseball has been monitoring the unrest in Cincinnati
that has prompted an 8 p.m. curfew in case the Reds need to
reschedule games next week.
The Reds have no home games until Tuesday and Wednesday, when the
Milwaukee Brewers play two 7:05 p.m. games. MLB can wait as late as
Monday to decide whether to postpone Tuesday's game at Cinergy Field
or switch to an afternoon start, said Katy Feeney, vice president for
scheduling and club relations.
"We've been in touch with the Reds and will work with them, and
they will be working with the city,'' she said. "We will be watching
to see what happens over the weekend.''
After the curfew experiment worked Thursday night, city officials
were giving credit to the people of Cincinnati, saying their
cooperation made it happen.
"I think what I can say to you is that the citizens of Cincinnati
have elected to regain control of their city.'' Chief Streicher said.
