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Talented 19 Action News Reporter and Anchor Paul Joncich
From the Metro Desk of the Kathy Wray Coleman Online News Blog.Com (www.kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com [2])
Thank you to News Channels 5, 3 and 19 for covering the rally as to the 6 pm curvew law adopted three weeks ago by Cleveland Hts City Council. The rally was on July 18, 2011 in front of Cleveland Hts City Hall with some 25 activists protesting, followed by discussions at the City Council meeting where activists called for council to end the unconstitutional and irresponsible city ordinance that allegedly targets Black children and gives police the discretion as to whom to arrest for eating a sandwich at select restaurants in the city after 6 pm.
Community Activist Valerie Robinson, who is White and a Cleveland Hts residence, told Cleveland Hts City Council that the city ordinance is nothing more that an effort to target Black children because they are "walking while being Black."
Activist groups, including The Imperial Women and Stop Targeting Ohio's Poor, also took issue with the curfew law provision that gives police the discretion to pick and choose and to arrest Blacks while leaving their White counterparts alone, if they wish, which they say is a licence for potential discrimination.
The curfew law at issue, adopted by way of an amendment to a longstanding city ordinance on curfews, allows police to arrest children under 18 caught eating at select restaurants or otherwise patronizing select businesses in Cleveland Hts. in the absence of a parent or guardian after 6 pm. Activists and others met with State Sen. Shirley Smith (D-21) on Tue. to make their demands known and agreed to delay scheduled upcoming protests until the senator meets with the group again after conferring with Cleveland Hts Mayor Edward Kelley. They want the ordinance repealed saying that it is racist and unconstitutional and they are calling for more sensitivity training for police in Cleveland Hts.
A special thanks to 19 Action News Anchor and Reporter Paul Joncich. View his video by clicking on Restrictive and Racist: Demonstrators say Coventry curfew targets blacks [3]
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Protest at Cleveland Hts over curfew law
CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH (WOIO) - Demonstrators gathered in front of Cleveland Heights City Hall to protest the recently adopted curfew law before taking their concerns into the meeting.
Protestors say the law is unconstitutional and racist.
Three weeks ago Cleveland Heights City Council passed a law stating that children under 18 will be arrested if caught eating or otherwise patronizing restaurants in select areas of the city of Cleveland Hts. after 6:00 PM, unless they are with a parent or guardian.
Demonstrators say the curfew targets blacks.
"It also gives police the discretion to pick and choose, meaning it's a license for potential discrimination," said one demonstrator.
Despite protests, for now the curfew will remain in place.
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