Pubdate: Sat, 12 Jan 2008
Source: Lima News (OH)
Copyright: 2008 Freedom Newspapers Inc.
Contact:  http://www.limanews.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/990
Author: Heather Rutz
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Tarika+Wilson (Tarika Wilson)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/raids.htm (Drug Raids)

GROUP MARCHING AGAIN TODAY

LIMA -- When residents marched last Saturday, they vowed to march
every Saturday until they had the truth about what happened during a
fatal police shooting of a 26-year-old woman.

They are marching again today, a day after friends and family laid
Tarika Wilson to rest.

"We want truth and justice," said Brenda Johnson, march organizer and
director of the Cheryl Allen Southside Community Center. "Through
truth and justice we will have peace."

The group has said it will march until charges are brought against
Police Sgt. Joe Chavalia, the officer who shot Wilson. Wilson was
killed and her boyfriend, Anthony Terry, was arrested in a drug raid
of her home.

Police have released no details of what happened during the raid,
turning over the investigation to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal
Investigation and Identification and the FBI.

The Allen County Sheriff's Office will escort marchers, who will be
joined by members of regional offices of the Nation of Islam and
Bishop Richard Cox. Cox is with the Dayton office of the Southern
Christian Leadership Conference.

"Marching works," Cox said. "It worked for the Voting Rights Act and
Civil Rights Act. It brought about fair housing laws. ... It's good
that we're marching because this tragedy with Tarika opens up a wide
door with other people who have been victims in this city, whose loved
ones have been killed in the Allen County Jail. As we seek the truth
about Tarika, we need to seek the truth about things going on a long
time in Lima."

Cox said while his group is not trying to exclude pastors in the Black
Ministerial Alliance, it is standing behind Johnson as a grass-roots
leader "who's keeping the lid on what's possible to happen in Lima."
Johnson said she's pushing for the truth but has no desire for
violence, saying rioting accomplishes nothing.

[sidebar]

MARCH FOR TRUTH AND JUSTICE

Gathering begins at 4:30 p.m. today at Cheryl Allen Southside
Community Center. The march will begin at 5 p.m. and continue north to
Fourth Street, then north on Main Street to downtown.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake