AKRON, Ohio — In lieu of the state of the city address, which was postponed indefinitely, Mayor Dan Horrigan will speak to residents in person during National Night Out on Thursday, Aug. 4, the city said.
Delivering the mayor’s annual speech isn’t appropriate in the wake of the Jayland Walker shooting, the city said in a statement.
“Standing on a stage and speaking at the people instead of having conversations with the people of Akron is not the right decision for us in this moment,” city spokesperson Stephanie Marsh said in an email Friday.
Walker, an unarmed Black man, was shot multiple times by Akron police officers on June 27. The 25-year-old fled from officers attempting a traffic stop. The chase ended with Walker shot to death by eight officers in a south Akron parking lot, struck by bullets nearly 50 times, according to the autopsy report and police body-cam footage.
Since then, protests and demonstrations have sprung up around the city, with some turning violent.
National Night Out, designed to promote police-community partnerships around the U.S., will take place at 12 locations across Akron, with each roughly two-hour event hosted by a city official, elected leader or member of the faith community.
Horrigan usually visits several of the locations during National Night Out, Marsh said.
Marsh was not clear on whether the city plans to step up security during National Night Out or take extra precautions, despite FBI warnings that violent extremists are coming to Akron to pose as local demonstrators to incite more violence, the city has said.
Times and locations of National Night Out Events:
- Firestone Park Community Center, 1480 Girard St., Councilman Donnie Kammer 5 p.m.-7 p.m.
- Reservoir Park 1835 Hillside Terrace, Councilwoman Sharon Connor, 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
- Joy Park Community Center, 825 Fuller St., Mike Dowdell, 4 p.m.-8 p.m.
- Ed Davis Community Center, 730 Perkins Woods Drive, Robert Dowdell, 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
- Patterson Baseball Complex, 955 Patterson Ave., Gary Wyatt 4 p.m.-8 p.m.
- Northwest Recreation Center, 1730 Shatto Ave., Councilman Shammas Malik 5:30 p.m.-7:30 pm
- Chestnut Ridge Park, 1958 Chestnut Ridge Blvd. Councilman Mike Freeman 6 p.m.-8 p.m.
- St. Ashworth COGIC, 1086 Vernon Odom Blvd., Pastor Robert DeJournett 4 p.m.-7 p.m.
- Dave’s Supermarket,871 E. Exchange St., Megan Delong 6 p.m.-8 p.m.
- West Hill Church of our Savior, 471 Crosby St., Rev. Debra Bennett 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
- Highland Square Theater, 826 W. Market St., Councilwoman Nancy Holland 4 p.m.-7 p.m.
- V. Odom Library, 600 Vernon Odom Blvd. Theresa Boware 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
The Walker shooting is under investigation by the Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation. The local and national NAACP are calling for the U.S. Justice Department to open a separate investigation.
Walker family attorneys also are calling for BCI to turn the investigation over to the DOJ, accusing the police and BCI of collusion, after a FOP spokesman gave details from the officers’ involved in the shooting to a local news station.
Since the shooting, tensions have been high as some local groups have demanded the names of the officers involved.
Horrigan Police and Chief Steve Mylett have said they won’t release those names because police have received death threats.
Several groups are demanding meetings with the mayor and police representatives, which the city said must be organized though the Department of Justice.
“We have been working with the DOJ’s community relations team to facilitate further conversations with community and activist organizations, but have not yet been able to schedule meetings with other groups,” Marsh wrote.
Horrigan and Mylett said they met with the Black Elected Officials of Summit County on July 17, and have met with some faith leaders.
Horrigan also plans to attend several events this weekend to speak to residents, Marsh said.
