How public protest and pedestrian safety intersect
How public protest and pedestrian safety intersect
With Cincinnati's well-documented history of increased risk to people walking and biking through its neighborhoods, the protest march can pose extra challenges.
But along with those challenges, taking to the streets can be all the more empowering.
DEMONSTRATIONS ACROSS THETRI-STATE, MARCHING THROUGHTHE STREETS IS A TIME-TESTEDSTRATEGY DURING MOMENTS OFSOCIAL PROTEST.BUT IN A CITYLIKE CINCINNATI, WHERE STREETSCAN BE PARTICULARLYTREACHEROUS FOR PEDESTRIANS,MARCHING CAN PRESENT EXTRACHALLENGES.BUT AS WCPO 9 NEWSREPORTER PAT LAFLEUR TELLS US,WITH THOSE EXTRA RISKS, CANCOME A GREATER SENSE OFEMPOWERMENT FOR THOSE MARCHING.IN RECENT WEEKS, U-C STUDENT,MYRIAM MANE HAS HELPEDORGANIZE MULITPLE PROTESTSTHROUGHOUT CINCINNATI.HERFIRST WAS THROUGH CLIFTON.(SOT) Myriam Mane/Protestorganizer070720protestersstreets.mp400:03:07 We marched avery nice perimeter around UC,through Martin Luther King andthen Calhoun.(VO)MANE SAIDTHERE'S A DISRUPTIVE FACTOR TOTAKING OVER THE STREETS THATHELPS AMPLIFY PROTESTERS'MESSAGE.(SOT) Mane00:11:14It's definitely a power-move,for sure.(BUTT SOTs)00:11:36When you have a large group ofpeople taking up the street,and drivers have no choice butto yieldto those pedestrians.(VO)MANEMET ALONI WELKER, ANOTHER U-CSTUDENT AND ORGANIZER, ATANOTHER PROTEST.SHE SAID ATONE PROTEST SHE MARCHED...(SOT) Aloni Welker/Protestorganizer00:04:34 They wereblocking off streets.
They hadtwo cop cars standing at thintersection to make sure allof the protesters were secure.(VO)BUT AT ANOTHER PROTEST THESAME DAY...(SOT) Welker00:04:55 Someone drove throughthe crowd.(VO) [OVER CAR INTOCROWD VIDEO]THAT WAS JUNE 3RD,WHEN POLICE SAY THE LIGHT ATPLUM AND NINTH JUST OUTSIDECITY HALL TURNED GREEN, ANDTHIS DRIVER MOVED HIS B-M-WTOWARD THE CROWD.ONE PROTESTERSTANDS HER GROUND, AND BARELYMAKES IT OUT OF THE WAY BEFORETHE CAR TURNS AROUND ANDDRIVES AWAY.IT GOT COUNCILMANJEFF PASTOR THINKING.(SOT)Jeff Pastor/Cincinnati CityCouncil00:01:44 It has to dowith the number of pedestriansthat have been struck in ourcity.(VO)THE INCIDENT, AND ANEWLY PAINTED BLACK LIVESMATTER MURAL ON PLUM STREET,LED PASTOR TO PROPOSE TURNINGTHE BLOCK INTO A PEDESTRIANPLAZA, CLOSING IT TO VEHICLES.(SOT) Pastor00:00:40 When yougo to other cities...(BUTTSOTs)00:00:44 You seepedestrian plazas in front ofgovernment buildings all thetime.(BUTT SOTs)00:01:05 Whynot have a pedestrian plazawhere people can literallycome, have a conversation,engage with their city leaders?(VO)A CITY REPORT MENTIONEDACCESS TO BUSINESSES, PARKINGAND TRAFFIC VOLUME ASLOGISTICAL ISSUES WOULD NEEDRESOLVED BEFORE COUNCIL SHOULDGO FORWARD.IN THE MEANTIME,MANE SAID MARCHERS AREWATCHING OUT FOR EACH OTHER.(SOT) Mane00:25:00Taking careof each other is a bigpriority on and off thestreets, especially on thestreets.(BUTT SOTs)00:18:39 Ifyou say, 'Our streets,' youbetter mean it.(VO)PATLAFLEUR, WCPO 9 NEWS.PAT TELLS US THERE IS A LOTMORE TO THIS STORY, INCLUDINGHOW IMPOSING A CURFEW MADE THEACT OF MARCHING THROUGH THESTREETS A LOT MORE COMPLICATED.YOU CAN READ HIS FULL STORYRIGHT NOW ON WCPO-DOT-COM.
