Some Akron neighborhoods cancel National Night Out events, citing protests, safety fears

Editor's note: A previous version of this story contained incorrect information about National Night Out activities for Akron's Kenmore neighborhood. The Kenmore event was expected to proceed as planned as of around 3:45 p.m. Thursday, according to a city of Akron news release.

The National Night Out events Thursday in Akron's Goodyear Heights, Highland Square and Middlebury neighborhoods have been canceled, with organizers citing safety concerns and possible protests relating to the fatal Akron police shooting of Jayland Walker. With thunderstorms fanning out across the area Thursday afternoon and expected into the evening, it was not immediately clear whether activities planned in other neighborhoods would go on as scheduled.

Each city ward hosts the annual event, spearheaded by a community leader or council member, as part of the national campaign to build police and community relationships in an attempt to curb crime. As of Wednesday afternoon, four had canceled.

Sharon Connor, the Ward 10 councilwoman representing Goodyear Heights, made the decision to cancel the event Tuesday afternoon, saying "multiple people" had sent her social media posts from an out-of-town group calling for protests. She had conversations with the police chief, neighborhood pastors and other community leaders about what she called possible threats.

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"Although I understand they have a right to protest, I do ... I don’t know how our neighborhood would react to that," she told the Beacon Journal. "Given all that information and being that so many families and little ones would be there, I’m not going to put my little ones at risk."

The event, which includes Akron police officers meeting with and speaking to attendees, comes just over a month after officers shot and killed 25-year-old Walker, sparking citywide protests and drawing some out-of-town crowds.

Goodyear Heights was not targeted, she said, and each neighborhood's event details were listed in the social media posts. Connor did not specify what group was publicizing the call for protests.

Shortly after Connor's announcement, Ward 1 Council Representative Nancy Holland shuttered Highland Square's Thursday screening of "Ghostbusters" at the Highland Square Theatre. Holland cited similar concerns to Connor's, but stated she was unsure if the group was local or not.

"The movie selection was a family-friendly flavor, and the idea was to provide two hours of carefree air conditioning and good, clean fun," Holland said. "Given the understandable tension in our community right now, this was straining capacity."

Holland's Highland Square home was the site of protests last Tuesday evening.

"I am a great believer in peaceful, nonviolent protests, but also believe that time, place, circumstances, can really affect how that goes," she said.

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Connor said she is not only concerned about protesters, however, and also worries about the response of Goodyear Heights residents in attendance, "many" of whom openly carry or concealed-carry guns.

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"I will always defer on the side of safety," she said. "My heart is breaking that I have to cancel this, but it would be totally awful if something happened. All it takes is one person."

Connor said she plans to reschedule the event, which was slated to be held at Reservoir Park and feature a DJ, games, food and community resources, at a later date.

Neighborhood Network's community resource fair, which was scheduled to take place at Dave's Market on Thursday, will also be rescheduled for November 1 from 6-8 p.m. at Family of Faith United Methodist Church.

A city spokesperson told the Beacon Journal on Wednesday that all other events will proceed as scheduled, saying they have "no reason" to believe there are any safety concerns at any of the locations.

Reporter Abbey Marshall is a corps member with Report for America, a national service program that places journalists into local newsrooms. Learn more at reportforamerica.org. Contact her at at amarshall1@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron neighborhoods' National Night Out canceled over safety concerns