Cin Enquirer

Allen: No riot amnesty

By Kimball Perry, Post staff reporter

Calls for a blanket amnesty for rioters are drawing a strong response from an unapologetic Hamilton County Prosecutor Mike Allen.

''Let me put it to you this way, and please quote me: 'When pigs fly,' '' Allen said. ''It ain't gonna happen.''

Leaders of the Baptist Ministers Conference, Cincinnati Black United Front and other black organizations and religious groups called for amnesty Saturday as one of the demands they want met to call off their interna tional boycott of Cincinnati.

The boycott addresses what some believe is the lack of effort by Cincinnati leaders to deal with concerns about the way blacks have been treated, particularly since April riots following the shooting death of an unarmed black teen by a white police officer.

''Since the April rebellion we have seen the Hamilton County Justice System continue and even escalate its racist and disparate practices toward African-Americans to the point of trying to silence and even jail some of us that speak out against injustice,'' noted the Cincinnati Black United Front's Saturday statement, in which the amnesty demand was made.

Allen has no objection to speaking out against injustice. He does object, though, to people committing crimes. ''We now have an international reputation for violence,'' he said of the city.

While some seek blanket amnesty for rioters, others instead seek equal treatment. Of particular concern to them are the curfew violation arrests of blacks while, they contend, whites who violated curfew weren't charged.

''We're looking for justice meted out fairly,'' said the Rev. Damon Lynch III. ''For those arrested under a selectively enforced curfew, amnesty is just.''

Leonard Weinstein, owner of Barr's Loan Office in Over-the-Rhine, said he sees no reason to exonerate those who broke into his store. ''No way in the world (should amnesty be granted). Why should we?'' Weinstein asked.

''The people who broke into my place had nothing to do with the riots. They just wanted something for nothing.''

His business -- looted five times during the riots -- suffered $150,000 to $200,000 in losses but has re-opened. ''They cleaned me out,'' he said.

''It's ridiculous. It makes no sense, just like the boycott makes no sense. What does that have to do with the cops?''

Publication date: 07-19-01

-- Anonymous, July 19, 2001