Akron Mayor Shammas Malik announced Friday night that all large events on city property this weekend have been canceled because of “safety concerns” City Council members expressed in the wake of the June 2 shooting in East Akron.
The cancellations came despite Malik expressing confidence in the city’s security plans for the events and “no known threats” being made related to them.
Malik cited a letter he received on Friday afternoon from eight Akron City Council members that said they “believe to allow city-sanctioned gatherings so soon after this tragedy is irresponsible…. We do not need a repeat occurrence. We respectfully request that you cancel these events in the interest of public safety!”
“When I get a letter like what I received, I have to take that seriously,” Malik said during a Friday night press conference. Malik, a former Ward 8 council member, said that, as the representatives of their neighborhoods, council members should be listened to.
The letter said “violence broke out” on Friday at the funeral for LaTeris Cook, the 27-year-old killed in the shooting. It said that the events should be canceled because:
- “Tensions are still high” and people are grieving while “seemingly lacking in skills to calmly resolve issues without using violence.”
- The shooter or shooters have not been caught and are “freely roaming our city.”
- Large gatherings create the potential for “copycat or retaliatory shootings.”
Among the eleven events called off, the last-minute cancellation includes three Juneteenth celebrations, including:
- The Akron Juneteenth Festival at Stoner/Hawkins Park (Saturday).
- The Ward 5 Annual Juneteenth Festival at Joy Park Community Center (Saturday).
- The West Akron Parade and Juneteenth Father’s Day Celebration at Buchtel Community Learning Center and Kerr Park (Sunday).
Shortly after Malik received the letter from the council members, his office announced the cancellation of Friday evening’s concert at Lock 3. A couple hours later, he announced the cancellation of the rest of the weekend events that entailed large gatherings on city-owned property.
City to host Juneteenth event Wednesday at Knight Center
He announced a city-sanctioned Juneteenth event on Wednesday at the John S. Knight Center and stated his intention that vendors from the canceled events be compensated for lost money to “make these folks whole.”
Shareefah Wahid, a longtime community organizer who planned Juneteenth events this weekend, attended and watched the press conference in the Ocasek Building and was called on during the question-and-answer period.
“This is bigger than you know,” she said to Malik, criticizing his decision. “This is our independence day. We are proud people, and we have these events because we are proud and we were deprived of our independence.”
After the press conference, Malik approached Wahid to speak to her and listen to her concerns. Wahid said she appreciates and supports Malik but not Friday’s decision.
“Our ancestors died for us to be able to do this,” Wahid said. “… I’m 73, I don’t have long to be here, but we have to teach these children where they come from.”
Letter is signed by eight council members
The Akron City Council letter was led by Ward 5 Council Member Johnnie Hannah, who represents the area where the June 2 shooting occurred, and seven other representatives, including Council President Margo Sommerville (Ward 3), Jeff Fusco (at-large), Brad McKitrick (Ward 6), Sharon Connor (Ward 10), Sam DeShazior (Ward 1), Phil Lombardo (Ward 2) and Jan Davis (Ward 4).
Members who did not sign the City Council letter are Eric Garrett (at-large), Linda Omobien (at-large), Tina Boyes (Ward 9), James Hardy (Ward 8), and Donnie Kammer (Ward 7). Hardy told Signal Akron on Friday night that he was asked to sign the letter but did not do so.
“While traveling for work today, council leadership reached out to ask if I would sign a letter expressing safety concerns related to Juneteenth festivities,” he said in a text message. “I asked if we knew of any credible threats and was told no. Therefore I declined to sign.”
At 11 p.m. Friday, Garrett released a statement that sharply criticized the letter. To cancel Juneteenth events without credible threats “undermines the spirt of Juneteenth and the resilience of our community,” it stated. He specifically called out two of his colleagues.
“Councilman Garrett is also concerned with the hasty actions of Councilman Hannah and Councilwoman Davis, whose unsubstantiated claims initiated unnecessary panic and led to the unwarranted cancellation of these cherished events,” he wrote.
Former Ward 5 Council Member Tara Mosley, whose security camera captured people fleeing from the June 2 gunfire, also attended the press conference and watched from the back. While wearing a Juneteenth t-shirt, she criticized the eight council members for their decision and for not showing up to answer questions about it. She said, “We have council members who are using an opportunity to be vengeful.”
The following weekend events were canceled:
Friday, June 14
Rock the Lock at Lock 3 Park
Concert and Water Tower Market at Triangle Park
Saturday, June 15
Blue Heron Festival at the Mustill Store
Akron Juneteenth Festival at Stoner/Hawkins Park
Ward 5 5th Annual Juneteenth Festival at Joy Park Community Center
Nu You Event at Hardesty Park
North Hill 5K
American Heart Association Heart Walk
Sunday, June 16
West Akron Parade and Juneteenth Father’s Day Celebration at Buchtel Community Learning Center and Kerr Park
Church in the Park at Davenport Park
Wellness on the Plaza on Cascade Plaza
