Cleveland Calls for Calm over Cop Acquittal after Dozens Arrested
Authorities in Cleveland warned Sunday they would not tolerate violent protests over the acquittal of a white policeman in the fatal shooting of two African Americans, after dozens of people were arrested.
Small, mainly peaceful protests erupted Saturday in the midwestern U.S. city and dragged on into the night after 31-year-old patrolman Michael Brelo was found not guilty on two counts of voluntary manslaughter in the 2012 killing.
The verdict came amid widespread tensions in the United States over police treatment of blacks following the deaths of a number of unarmed African Americans at the hands of law enforcement.
Officials in Cleveland are looking to prevent the kind of violent unrest that plagued Baltimore last month after the death of a 25-year-old African American man from injuries suffered in police custody.
City police chief Calvin Williams said 71 people were arrested, as multiple demonstrators broke away from the protests and in some cases assaulted bystanders.
"We only moved in to make arrests when things got violent and protesters refused to disperse," Williams told reporters.
"We wanted to make sure that people understand we're going to help you in this process, but if things turn violent, as we stated in the beginning, we will take action to preserve safety in the city."
In one case, a protester threw a sign at a restaurant patron, while other demonstrators pepper-sprayed diners.
Mayor Frank Jackson said authorities supported peaceful demonstrations, but said the city would make further arrests if necessary.
"We will and we continue to encourage a peaceful protest and demonstration. However, we will not tolerate activities that cross the line," Jackson said.
Brelo was one of 13 officers who opened fire on Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams during a police chase on November 29, 2012.
A total of 137 rounds were fired at the car, including 49 by Brelo. He shot the final 15 after climbing onto the hood of Russell's Chevrolet Malibu.
Brelo was also acquitted of felonious assault.
- Violence 'not the answer' -
NBA superstar LeBron James, who plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers, called for calm after Saturday's demonstrations, and said he hopes the Cavs' playoff run could help unify the city.
"Violence is not the answer," James said.
Cleveland police also faced criticism after Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old black boy carrying a toy gun, was fatally shot last year by a white officer at a playground.
Ohio Governor John Kasich praised the city's mainly calm response to the verdict.
Residents "should be so proud of themselves and we should look at Cleveland as a model," Kasich told ABC's "This Week" news program on Sunday.
He noted that he created a task force months ago to look at fraught relations between police forces and communities.
That initiative yielded recommendations to boost recruitment of minority police officers and a statewide policy on police use of deadly force.
"We're on top of it as best we can," Kasich said.
"Across the state of Ohio, we've been very aggressive in terms of saying we hear you."
Russell's sister Michelle told CNN she was "very upset" by the verdict in the Brelo case.
"We're going to continue to fight for justice," she said.
Source: Agence France Presse
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