City and community leaders are bracing for next week.

        Several events — a possible grand-jury indictment of a Cincinnati police officer, the possibility of protests, and even the planned Jammin' on Main Festival — could become powder kegs, so some of Cincinnati's leaders are taking measures to be prepared.

        Rumors about an indictment, or lack thereof, of Cincinnati police Officer Steve Roach continued to swirl Friday, the second day of testimony before a Hamilton County grand jury. Officer Roach shot to death Timothy Thomas, 19, as the unarmed black man ran from police April 7.

Streicher

        Officials initially were concerned that riots would resume if Officer Roach was not indicted. Now, they fear possible riots even if the officer is indicted — if the charge chosen by the grand jury isn't severe enough in the community's eyes.

        Police Chief Tom Streicher called again for public patience.

        “There are a lot of initiatives that have been set in motion,” he said Friday. “It's in everyone's interest to allow these things to work here. Progress is not going to be made by trouble breaking out again.”

        At a Thursday event, the Rev. Damon Lynch III urged fellow clergy to be ready for — and to participate in — civil disobedience should the grand jury return without an indictment or with misdemeanor charges.

Lynch

        In the face of more riots, it is the clergy's job, he said, to stem the violence but also to protest any injustice in a peaceful manner, he said.

        “If anybody has to go to jail, it shouldn't be our young people,” the Rev. Mr. Lynch said to more than 70 Tristate religious leaders at a Council of Christian Communions meeting.

        “It should be us. We should be willing to do that for justice. ... We are not relevant if we have no response to what's happening.”

        The Rev. Mr. Lynch, pastor of New Prospect Baptist Church in Over-the-Rhine, is one of three co-chairs of Mayor Charlie Luken's newly formed race commission. He and other clergy are leading a group of people on a prayer walk through Over-the-Rhine today, beginning at 11 a.m. at the Nast-Trinity United Methodist Church, 1310 Race St.

        Hamilton County Prosecutor Mike Allen, who is presenting the case to the grand jury, has said he plans to give the public 24 hours' notice before announcing grand-jury results — in part to allow police to get ready for any violent fallout.

        To be ready, Hamilton County Sheriff's deputies start working 12-hour days on Monday. Cincinnati police officials wouldn't say whether their officers are starting the grueling longer shifts again.

        Chief Streicher does not think deployment plans should be revealed publicly.

        “All we really want to say right now is that we'll be ready for any and all public safety concerns that might arise,” police spokesman Lt. Ray Ruberg said.

        City officials are keeping up plans for next weekend's Pepsi Jammin' on Main Festival, which in past years has brought thousands of people to Over-the-Rhine. This year, bands will play on three stages around Main Street and Central Parkway on Friday and Saturday nights.

        More visible and active participation from clergy could make a difference between peaceful protest and violent confrontations, the Rev. Mr. Lynch said.

        He pointed out that in the 1960s, clergy were often arrested in their fight for racial equality.

        But when riots hit Cincinnati in April, “we let our kids go (to jail). Our children went. But none of us went,” he said.

        Nonviolent civil disobedience can show people in the neighborhoods that the religious leaders care, said Joellen Grady, executive director of the Council of Christian Communions, which hosted the event.

        The clergy “don't need to pick up a bottle. They don't need to throw anything,” she said. “They just need to be present and make a statement that you can protest without being violent.”

        Not everyone there was convinced.

        The Rev. Christopher Beard, senior pastor at First Christian Assembly of God in Corryville, said he's concerned about justice and fairness, but he won't encourage his flock to engage in civil disobedience.

        The call for civil disobedience can be interpreted in many ways, including with violence, he said.

        “I will call our church to speak the truth with love,” the Rev. Mr. Beard said.

        Several other clergy offered alternate ways to prepare for the indictment announcement.

        • Open church buildings during any future unrest to provide a safe haven.

        • Ask lawyers in their congregations to represent free of charge people arrested during the riots.

        • Hold meetings for teens to talk about the racial problems.

        • Offer conflict training for clergy.

        Enquirer reporter Marie McCain contributed.

Streicher looks for solutions
Leaders: Riots could erupt in Ky.
Archive of riot reports and photos

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