The Voice of those unheard...

16 months after Toledo riot, focus moves from court to community


First, kudos to ROBIN ERB, who dared to give you a glimpse of the story behind the story!!!

Second, I humbly bow to all those (named and unnamed) who have given of themselves--their time, their money, their bodies and their sweat that made this "good news story" out of an otherwise horrifying historical fact.

Just a couple of ideas that are important to me and that I would like to share:

First, the focus DID NOT move to the community; the focus is and has been on community as long as our respective churches, agencies, organizations and settlement houses have existed. Built on foundations and ideals of social change and personal empowerment and... FAITH, our agencies work tirelessly to live the missions we espouse.

Salem Lutheran Church just celebrated its 165th year in North Toledo. Friendly Center and Caldwell have been in the neighborhoods since Jane Adams and the settlement house movement. These are Institutions who have COMMITTED to this community and remain here, day after day, year after year....mayor after Mayor, council after council, commissioner after commissioner-- committed to this community that is often dismissed by each of those using the revolving door.

Secondly, many in and around the neighborhood and in our black community reject the use of the word RIOT to describe the events of October 15, 2005.
For a long time I have agreed with my colleagues and friends. I understood the reasons articulated.... the negative assumptions and stereotypes about race and class. In those discussions those reasons made sense. But then one day, the Rev. Dr. MLK, Jr. reminded me that:

A RIOT is but the voice of those unheard.

THE VOICE of those UNHEARD.

In many ways, the word RIOT truly, though sadly, probably most accurately describes what happened that day. The revolving door of policy and politics has left this neighborhood unserved, under-served, disenfranchised and distressed from years of terminal neglect.

From Politico(n)s who have spoken aloud "Ya'll don't vote in this neighborhood, so I don't hafta represent ya", to those unspoken acts of benign (or strategic?) environmental racism that have left distressed the mansions of old, the highest concentration of subsidized and rental housing, a 62% unemployment rate and the sheer absence of accoutrements most take for granted like a banks and grocery stores; these neighborhoods house those MOST unheard within Toledo.

There is one other alternative that I believe accurately describes the events of October 15, 2005. The words are:
-- HATE CRIME--

For a week and a half before Sweetest Day, courtesy of every source of information...and media in this town, those who shall remain Nameless were allowed to verbally attack, taunt, assault and incite the GOOD people of TOLEDO. Every morning commute woke us up with hatred, each good nite newscast sang us to sleep with a hate-filled lullabye.

Absent in those days that led up to the crime were our heroic leaders, who should have been on the streets the first day that the NAMELESS announced there intentions. Those same HEROEs(?) rode in on steeds of rescue, (as if rescue was possible)-- long after chaos and mayhem had left the streets of T-Town beaten, batterd and splayed 'cross the world's large plasma screens- shadow casting images we've yet to outrun. Toledo's "finest" moment -- in full living color-- looped and rerun- & never retired. Our useless leaders and our media handed these hate-mongering bullies the key to the hen house....invited them in, then left them to their folly. And, once the set was carefully staged for disaster, our great(?)reckless leaders placed our hard working officers into a no win situation and said.... go and keep peace....

I have tremendous respect and admiration for the officers who exercised restraint on the lines that day... given the situation. I also recognize-- though some may not... that there was extreme restraint on the part of the people that day as well. How can I say such a thing??? Well, while there was extreme property damage and some substantial injuries, it seems that no lives were taken or lost.

Please understand that I do NOT dismiss the seriousness of the violence that took place that day-- from any side. I do not excuse nor advocate for the bad choices that were made that day. People are responsible for their actions, good or bad, but.... it is a tribute to -EVERYONE- (police and people) that (to my knowledge) no one died.

It is important though that we recognize the implicit double standard.

Our citizens Our neighbors--men and women, boys and girls-- were arrested, tried, adjudicated and sentenced.

What happened to the NAMELESS? Why weren't the NAMELESS or their carpet~bagging groupies tried for INCITING a riot? Why did we, the taxpayers of this community have to foot the bill for the damage and destruction and havoc wreaked upon us, while the NAMELESS received a handshake, a good ol' attaboy pat on the back and VIP escort outta town-- so they wouldn't get hurt.

Its a "Just Us" brand of justice that should NOT have happened, here!

Why were the NAMELESS not tried or convicted? Why were they not labeled a terrorist, a rioter an incitor, a threat to TOLEDO's Home(& heart) land Security?
Could it be some of those same assumptions about race and class? Could it be that the NAMELESS connect to deep pockets and bully pulpits wherever they go? Could it be the hue of their creamy light skin and their birthright into the dominant hegemony of white privilege?

This Restorative Justice project piloted after the RIOT became the passion and life blood of many. It only happened because of our determination and commitment to building relationships in the shape of a vibrant, healthy & safe community. It happened because it was the right thing to do... there wasn't much time for accounting, or fundraising, or proposal writing. It had no real funding, no real program or proposal written ahead of time. It was a moment, in which all involved sought collective healing for the wounds ripped open that day. Restorative Justice -- was and is the only JUSTICE for these families, for this, our community.

As adults, leaders and guides in this community, as the keepers of this village, we failed our youth, our selves and our community on that fateful day. May we now grow and learn to listen....may we recognize our well meaning but mis-guided decisions and beliefs and come together as a community to discuss this....
Yes, to discuss it, respectfully, responsibly, again, and again, and again.

It is our sentence... we must step up. We must fiercely and honestly discuss this, because we've still got lessons to learn. We must give names to the wounds, we must embrace them & comfort them and discuss them, fiercely, responsibly and authentically. Only in naming and facing these monsters of race and class stereotypes-- Only then will we move beyond the dark(er) side and perhaps, ensure that it will never happen again.

~namaste