In Cincinnati - the viewing and funeral are about to begin. Things are starting to heat up there already.

Seems like Sharpton, nation of islam, MLK 3rd, New Black panthers leader Shabazz, and plenty of visitors from Louisville, Columbus, Toledo, Detroit, Dayton, Cleveland and Indianapolis are there to show their support.

Let us all pray that the situation there remains calm today and for days forward.

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2001

Answers

I don't know the full history behind the reportedly abysmal race relations in Cincinnati, so I hesitate to pronounce on that subject. I do know the mother of the victim has asked that people be orderly and I hope her wishes are respected. After the funeral and tonight? I would hazard a guess that all bets are off.

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2001

There are crowd problems already. One crowd is reportedly under the influence of "a high quantity of alcohol."

The scanner link is here

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2001

Listening to the scanner now. Seems like there is a crowd going along with sticks and/or bats.

The police seem to have their hands more than full.

My heart aches for the entire town.

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2001

Maybe we're in for a long, hot summer, Sheeple.

SanFranGate

Crowd calls The City's climate racist

Examiner staff report

Just when Mayor Willie Brown and Supervisor Chris Daly appeared to have made amends for a shouting match, a rally outside City Hall on Tuesday stirred up the conflict as a contingent of the city's black leaders accused Daly and the local media of racism.

Former supervisor Amos Brown and the Rev. Cecil Williams of Glide Memorial Church headlined the rally of about 150 people, protesting what they see as racism by the newly cast Board of Supervisors and decrying criticism of black politicians in the city's newspapers.

Williams pointed to the conflict between Brown and Daly last week as the latest example of assaults against the mayor, though reports varied as to the actual aggressor in the fracas. Williams said Brown has been forced to endure many abuses, including having a pie thrown in his face, being stalked and putting up with people calling him names.

Williams called the current political climate as a "battleground." Talk was equally tough from the rally's other speakers, including one who evoked the memory of Malcom X with his call for blacks to claim a stake in the political process "by any means necessary."

Daly, who had to walk through the crowd to get to his car, said he was baffled by the charges of racism against him.

"I've spent my whole life working with communities of color," he said.

-- Anonymous, April 14, 2001