By Dan Yount
The Cincinnati Herald
Councilmembers Jan Michele-Lemon Kearney and Wendell Young called a special session of City Council on Friday, Jan. 8, to condemn the violence that occurred on Wednesday, Jan. 6, at the U.S. Capitol. All nine councilmembers (five Democrats, three Republicans and one Independent attended the session that was convened by Mayor John Cranley. The resolution that was presented passed unanimously.
The resolution stated, “We vehemently condemn the lawless actions of violence and destruction against our government, elected officials, government staff, and our law enforcement bodies as witnessed on January 6, 2021, in our nation’s capital and at our U.S. Capitol building, which were encouraged by President Donald Trump, and resulted in the loss of five lives, in an attempt to stop the democratic process of certifying the election of President-Elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. We call for an end to such insurrection.’’
In addition, it was stated that the City Council, “as a local government body, is obligated to speak out against the anarchy and insurrection that occurred on January 6, 2021, so as to protect the rights of the residents of the City of Cincinnati and all those living in the United States of America to a government of laws that apply equally to all people and to not be governed through violence;
Kearney said, “We uphold everyone’s First Amendment right peaceably to assemble and to have their grievances redressed, but there is no place for violence. The insurrection that occurred on Wednesday is the opposite of patriotism, and lives were lost.”
Young said, “We have never pledged allegiance to an individual … It’s always been to a republic.”
Councilmember Greg Landsman pointed out the “White privilege.” He said that in spite of the violence, there were few arrests and police were seen opening gates for the mob and helping protesters down the steps.
In a press conference earlier in the day, Pastor Ennis Tait said, “No one can tell me that if it had been a group of Black Lives Matter, that they wouldn’t have been treated differently.”
Young ended the session by saying how proud he was of his fellow councilmembers for coming together to take a stand against the insurrection.
Kearney said later, “We weren’t sure who would show up for the special session and who would support the resolution. As it turns out, all nine council members were in attendance. Hearing their words was emotional for me, and I could not have been more proud to serve on City Council with each of them.”
The United States of America shall continue to serve as a strong model of Democracy, she concluded, adding the importance of Mayor John Cranley’s and City Council’s call for the peaceful transition of power to the duly elected 46th President of the United States of America Joseph R. Biden Jr. and the duly elected Vice President Kamala Harris, who is the first woman and the first African American and Asian elected to that position, on January 20, 2021.