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CNN Live Saturday

Cincinnati Buries Timothy Thomas

Aired April 14, 2001 - 15:13   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: Sadness and anger today on the streets of Cincinnati. Funeral services are being held today for Timothy Thomas, the 19-year-old black man killed in a fatal police shooting one week ago. His death touched off days of violent protests, forcing officials this week to impose a citywide curfew. CNN's Bob Franken is there in Cincinnati -- Bob.

BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Donna, as you can tell -- and you can hear the loudspeaker in the background for the overflow crowd -- the church services are still going on, the funeral services for Timothy Thomas, who as you pointed out, was shot and killed unarmed just exactly a week ago, which caused violent confrontation between people in the African-American community and police throughout the week.

The service is still going on, as you can tell, inside the church. The church is crowded. Earlier, Angela Leisure, the wife of Timothy -- the mother, rather, of Timothy Thomas took a view of the casket. It was a very sad, poignant moment. She has been somebody who has been calling for calm all week. The calm only occurred after there was a curfew.

Now, among those who showed up to speak today was one of the city's officials who says that today -- today's events are crucial because they are so emotional, and there's concern that they could spark more violence. But thus far, there has been none.

The mayor was saying that it was time for the city to express deep regret to the family.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHARLES LUKEN, CINCINNATI MAYOR: I repeat today my apology to you and to your family and to your friends. What I ask is that today be a catalyst for a new Cincinnati.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FRANKEN: I am deeply sorry, said the mayor. And as for the catalyst for change for Cincinnati, speaker after speaker said Cincinnati had to improve on its record of official hostility toward the African-American community, charges that the police department for years has engaged in such things as racial profiling. There are a number of national figures here, including Martin Luther King III, who talked about federal officials and what needs to be done here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARTIN LUTHER KING III, CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST: We have heard the president say that he was instructing the attorney general, Mr. Ashcroft, to end racial profiling. Well, he might want to consider coming right here to Cincinnati.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FRANKEN: The city is still under a curfew, meaning that everybody must be off the streets between 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. The curfew, which was established two nights ago, did put an end to the violence. City officials are determining on a day-to-day basis whether it will be extended one more day.

More importantly, says everybody speaking at the service, is that efforts have to begin to try and heal the damage between the African- American community and the very white community leadership -- Donna.

KELLEY: Bob Franken in Cincinnati, thank you.

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