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Article published October 23, 2005

North Toledo poverty cited in riot, looting
Residents vent during forum
Michael Rose, a lifelong North Toledo resident, expresses his anger during a forum on last week's north-end riot.
( THE BLADE/ALLAN DETRICH )

By KIM BATES
BLADE STAFF WRITER


A week after protesters rioted in North Toledo, burning a business and trashing area homes, more than 150 residents and community leaders gathered yesterday to share their lingering frustration — while heatedly debating reasons for the destruction.

From a woman who’s lived in North Toledo for 50 years to a former area gang member, city leaders heard from those who remain angry about the riots. Others wanted apologies from the city for allowing neo-Nazis a place to march, and some pleaded for help providing a better future for the north side and its youths.

“Whether they’re black, white, or brown, poverty is the reason. Jail is an honor badge,” said Albert McCluster, 37, who lives in North Toledo. “They feel no matter what, it’s still going to remain the same.”

That sentiment was echoed by residents who said they’re doing what they can, many times with their own money and time, to fight issues of crime and poverty in North Toledo. Nearly three dozen people stood in line waiting to speak during the public forum.

“Everybody knows what the problem is. The youth — they need direction,” said Saeeda Hunter, a secretary at the Redeeming Temple Church on Elm Street, where leaders try to help youths who congregate outside their doors. “We need the money for programs to give the youths something to do.”

The forum, held at the Toledo Public Schools administration building, was organized by U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D., Toledo) and was moderated by the Rev. Mansour Bey, an associate pastor with the First Church of God in Toledo.

Mr. Bey put himself in the middle of the rioting last week when he and other leaders tried to break up a crowd that numbered into the hundreds.

The rioting was triggered by a planned neo-Nazi rally, which was canceled before it started when protesters began throwing rocks and gaining in numbers. So far, there have been more than 100 arrests from the incident, including 23 in the last several days for crimes at three businesses, including a looted and burned bar.

Michael Rose, 32, a native North Toledo resident and former gang member, said it didn’t surprise him that people reacted the way they did when faced with neo-Nazis near their homes.

“Throwing rocks? This is the north end. You’re so lucky that’s all that happened,” said Mr. Rose, who shouted as he pointed toward civic leaders. “Violence only breeds violence. We should have never let them come into our neighborhood.”



Many at the forum asked for city leaders to be lenient with juvenile offenders who were involved. Put them to work in the community, but don’t give them criminal records, they said.

“Hands off our young, black men,” said Washington Muhammad, who said they could provide service at his Self Expression Teen Theater.

During the forum, some North Toledo residents accused city police of being unresponsive to their past emergency calls, while others accused police of being racist.

Seated at a table, Mayor Jack Ford listened and constantly jotted notes. Afterward, he told residents he’d identified 35 key points to address on their behalf.

He vowed to help raise money for a family resource center in the neighborhood and said he would form a core group of residents to probe north-side issues. While he defended police response during the riot, he said, “We can always have better police-community relations.”

But he said those who’ve been charged with arson “will and need to be prosecuted. Period.”

Mayoral candidate Carty Finkbeiner, who’s challenging Mr. Ford in the Nov. 8 election, also attended the forum, but he left before it ended and did not speak. Several of his supporters sat in the crowd wearing his campaign’s T-shirts.

Miss Kaptur said she was pleased by the suggestions, including one calling for a solidarity march across the community. She also told the crowd she’s asked for a meeting with the FBI to identify non-Toledo residents who were involved in the incident.

“I have tears in my eyes for what we did here today,” Miss Kaptur said.

Afterward, the congressman went to Woodward High School to talk with members of its basketball team who were preparing — with rakes, brooms, and bags in hand — to descend into a nearby neighborhood to clean yards.

The team’s coach, Corey Tucker, organized the event as a positive way to respond to what happened last weekend. Woodward Principal Ron Spitulski said some of his students were arrested last week, but he didn’t have exact numbers.

“This is just to speak to the community,” the principal said.

Despite the chaos of Oct. 15, yesterday afternoon was quiet as the students stopped at homes and raked leaves into streets.

Marty Overton, 16, said he wasn’t involved in the rioting but witnessed it from his car along with his mother. “It was crazy. She took me straight home,” he said.

Higgins Street resident Jamey Aldrich followed the students through the streets, repeatedly bragging about their efforts.

“This is decent after last Saturday,” he said. “These kids want to make a difference. Let them do it.”

Contact Kim Bates at: kimbates@theblade.com or 419-724-6074.