by Andy - Cincinnati Refuse & Resist!
Today, April 9th, the oppressed peoples of Cincinnati's urban nation refused the authority of the established police and city council by spontaneously rallying the community into taking to the streets. This show of community resistance was in direct response to the shooting of Over-The-Rhine resident, nineteen year old Timothy Thomas, by a District One police officer. Timothy was unarmed and was being pursued for misdemeanors. His death ripped at the hearts and minds of a community living in a police state.
City Council convened today surrounded by the neighboors, family, and fellow citizens of Timothy who, outraged at the astonishing lack of answers from both the council and cheif of police on as to why the brother was killed, promptly shut the meeting down. Some people even barred council members from leaving the chambers by blocking the exits. From city hall the resisters moved en masse to the front doors of District One Police Station. Riot cops barred everyone from entering and occupying the building, but the people of the community made it clear that the streets were theirs. The american flag in front of the station was torn down and re-erected upside down and at half-mast. Over the next few hours more and more citizens convened on the location to the point where they were about three hundred strong, double the amount of cops present.
As the numbers began to bulge, members of the New Black Panther Party of Cincinnati rallied every one to take to the streets of downtown Cincinnati in force. The resisters moved as a massive family from the station to the spot where Timothy was murdered and paid a rousing homage to the fallen comrade. Thus began a two hour march through the streets of Over-The-Rhine and the West End where the family gathered more numbers from the housing projects before moving down the trendy gentrified Main Street, halting buissness and traffic in the mostly white bohemian club district. The police, too afraid of a riot, could do nothing to forcibly stop the march. They would not even follow the march into the streets of Over-The-Rhine knowing they were not welcome and that they no longer had authority there. The people had truly risen and taken back their community from the dominant police presence.
Finally, tonight, the community reconvened in front of the police station and set up camp. The building remains blocked by riot cops and horses. The atmosphere has turned from blind rage to community optimism. There is a feeling of renewal and of utmost preservation flooding through the crowd. Refuse and Resist has been supplying everyone with cold water as many have suffered from dehydration. Several people have rolled their cars in front of the station and pumped up the music. This has served to disrespect the police and provide the people with some jams. Everybody has the sweet taste of revolution in their mouths.
As of yet the police have made know arrests and the power is in our hands.
In Resistance,
[posted 4/11/01]
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