AKRON, Ohio — The city of Akron has announced that it is canceling all large events on public property this weekend, including several Juneteenth festivals, after eight members of city council expressed their "grave concerns" about safety in a letter to Mayor Shammas Malik.
Malik made the announcement during a press conference on Friday evening. He said he received the letter from the councilmembers hours earlier asking that the Juneteenth events scheduled for this weekend be canceled due to safety concerns following the June 2 mass shooting that left one man dead and 27 others injured.
"We believe to allow city-sanctioned gatherings so soon after this tragedy is irresponsible," the eight members of Council wrote. Two of the councilmembers represent wards where Juneteenth gatherings were scheduled to take place.
Councilmembers added that on Friday, "violence broke at at the funeral of the young man killed in the horrific June 2nd mass shooting."
"When I get a letter like what I received, I take it seriously," Malik explained in his cancellation announcement.
You can read the entire letter below.
Here is the complete list of events that will be canceled in Akron this weekend:
Friday, June 14
- Rock the Lock at Lock 3 Park
- Concert and Water Tower Market at Triangle Park
Saturday, June 15
- Blue Heron Festival at the Mustill Store
- Akron Juneteeth Festival at Stoner/Hawkins Park
- Ward 5 5th Annual Juneteenth Festival at Joy Park Community Center
- Nu You Event at Hardesty Park
- North Hill 5K
- American Heart Association Heart Walk
Sunday, June 16
- West Akron Parade and Juneteenth Father’s Day Celebration at Buchtel CLC and Kerr Park
- Church in the Park at Davenport Park
- Wellness on the Plaza on Cascade Plaza
Malik announced that the city will hold an official Juneteenth celebration on Wednesday, June 19 at the John S. Knight Center. The city is asking all organizers or vendors who were slated to be part of this weekend's events to join in Wednesday's celebration.
The mayor added that despite his deference to Akron City Councilmembers in canceling large gatherings this weekend, there is no credible threat to this weekend's Juneteenth festivals or any other city events.
Malik was asked why the city was canceling all large gatherings for the weekend, as opposed to the just the Juneteenth festivals which had concerned members of City Council.
"The reasoning in the letter applies to all large gatherings," he explained. "When eight councilmembers tell me that they have a concern about safety and ask me to shut down Juneteenth events, that reasoning applies to all events, so I'm not going to pick and choose.
The city initially announced that Friday's Lock 3 concert, scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. would be canceled in a release sent out at 5:30 p.m. Lock 3 had been set to host "Draw the Line: Aerosmith Tribute featuring Floco Torres and Free Black."
You can watch Friday evening's briefing in the player below.
Malik and Akron Police Chief Brian Harding had announced on Thursday that there would be a police presence at three Juneteenth events "as requested by organizers."
“This weekend’s events - Juneteenth celebrations in particular - were an opportunity for our community to come together and congregate in Akron with family and friends,” Malik added. “Public safety has been a priority of our administration from day one, and we actively worked with the Akron Police Department, Akron Fire Department, and the organizers of the Juneteenth events to provide safety personnel."
Previous Reporting:
- Akron mass shooting update: Victim count rises to 28, city announces victim assistance fund
- City leaders, residents gather for vigil at East Akron church following mass shooting
- Akron mass shooting update: Officials revise total number of gunshot victims to 27, including 1 dead, as search for suspects continues
- 27-year-old man killed in Akron mass shooting identified
- 'That street code is still real': Akron community grapples with fatal mass shooting as police search for suspects
- Mass shooting in Akron leaves 1 dead, 2 in critical condition with 25 total victims: Reward worth $22,500 now offered for information
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