Pubdate: Sat, 12 Apr 2008
Source: Lima News (OH)
Copyright: 2008 Freedom Newspapers Inc.
Contact:  http://www.limaohio.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/990
Author: Beth L. Jokinen

DRUG PROTEST ATTRACTS CROWD

LIMA - When Ruth Glover saw Jesse Lowe II recently  standing alone on
a street corner protesting drugs, she  knew she would join him.

"I told him, 'You don't have to stand alone. I'll be  there with you,'
" she said.

Lowe certainly did not stand alone Saturday.

At least 50 people at one point braved unlike-spring  temperatures and
periods of rain to gather on two  corners at the intersection of Cole
and North streets.  A gathering earlier in the week in the south end
of the  city attracted just 15 people.

Lowe hopes more people will become active in their  neighborhoods, and
stand up against drug use and drug  dealers crippling the community.

"When crimes are being committed, drugs are being  brought in, they
need to start opening their mouths and  letting individuals know that
they're not going to  tolerate it in their neighborhoods, their
workplace or  in their schools," he said.

Drivers honked as they passed the protestors, many who  held "drugs
bring death" signs. A few held signs  reading "keep hope alive, cast
drugs aside."

Bob Lewis said the signs say it all, adding that it's  not fair for
people to be held hostage in their homes  because of drugs and the
violence that comes along as a  result.

"We have to take our neighborhoods back," he said. "But  we have to do
it in a nice way, no violence."

The protests will send the right message to drug  dealers, Lewis
believes.

"You take your business somewhere else," he said.

Another protest is planned for 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday at  the corner of
Grand Avenue and North Main Street. Lowe  has bigger plans than just
protesting. He hopes to  bring people together to talk about solutions
to Lima's  drug problem.

Saturday's protest brought out people from all walks of  life, just as
Lowe had hoped. Children came with  parents and neighborhood group
members met each other  at the corner.

Pat Miron, president of the Hoover Park Neighborhood  Association,
said Lowe's goals are the same as  neighborhood associations'. Members
of her group called  and said they needed to stand with him.

"We feel we should be taking a stand against drugs,"  Miron said. "We
think by us being visible sends a  message that we do work together,
and want the city to  be back to the way it was."

Among those protesting were Lima Councilmen Tom Tebben  and David
Adams. Tebben was drawn there by Lowe's  commitment.

"Some people we call leaders in the black community  talk about the
problems, and Jesse Lowe is taking  action," he said. "To me, that is
what leadership  really is and I wanted to show him support."

Robert Horton III, worries about black-on-black crime  plaguing the
city. He brought his two children  Saturday, wanting to teach them to
stand up for their  neighborhood.

Glover said drugs have affected her family, and  probably most all
families in the city. It's another  reason she plans to keep protesting.

"Any little thing that I can do to bring awareness to  drug abuse and
dealing, I'll do it," she said. "I don't  know how much we can do to
stop it, but at least we can  make them aware that we're watching,
we're keeping an  eye on them and protecting our families."
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin