(Source: http://www.wsj.com/articles/peter-bronson-lessons-for-ferguson-from-cincinnatis-2001-riots-1408748376)
19-year-old Timothy Thomas, was shot and killed by a Cincinnati police officer, Stephen Roach in April of 2001. The city was overrun by rioters for four days. By the way, the victim was black, the officer was white.
". . . The shooting of Timothy Thomas was a tragic mistake by a 27-year-old cop startled during a foot pursuit in a dark alley. It later came out that Officer Roach's first words after the shooting were: "It just went off. My gun just went off." He was eventually acquitted of negligent homicide. . . In time, Cincinnati's leaders, black and white, learned some valuable lessons about race relations (which Ferguson and Baltimore have yet to learn):
• Tell the public everything immediately.
• Set the record straight.
• Don't crucify the cops.
• The federal government can slow the healing.
• Repudiate race-baiters.
Of course all this is much easier said than done and it requires ethical public officials and leaders.
What do you think?
Tell me at
http://www.rayjozwiak.com/guestbook.html or at
http://www.ohomusic.com
OHO's "Ocean City Ditty," the CD single is now available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/oho4
(and, if you're in town, at Trax On Wax on Frederick Rd. in Catonsville, MD) OHO is Jay Graboski, David Reeve & Ray Jozwiak. Please Visit http://www.ohomusic.com
My latest solo offering, Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak, featuring original, instrumental piano music is now available at - Just More Music by Ray Jozwiak
(To Access all Ray Jozwiak - Gonzo Piano music you can copy-and-paste this URL directly to
your browser: http://http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/RayJozwiak)
Also, be sure to visit:
http://www.rayjozwiak.com