Another reason to celebrate 7.17.11

INDIANAPOLIS STAR

The final weekend of Indiana Black Expo's 41st annual Summer Celebration drew thousands of people Downtown to participate in activities ranging from concerts to a health fair, from a celebrity basketball game to a community worship service.
But many may ultimately remember this year's event most for what didn't happen: There was no repeat of the Saturday night violence and gunfire that have marred the closing weekend of recent Summer Celebrations, including an eruption last year that left 10 black youths wounded in three separate shootings.
Although none of the shootings or fights was directly connected to Summer Celebration events or venues, the annual celebration of black culture that attracts more than 200,000 people Downtown during its 11-day run has been inescapably tied to the violence. The escalation of problems -- particularly on the final Saturday night -- has been enough to scare some people away. But a massive police presence, coupled with citizen patrols and the reconfiguring of some event times and locations, appears to have been an effective deterrent this year.
Indianapolis police reported 26 arrests, 13 traffic citations and five curfew violations from 4 p.m. Saturday to 4 a.m. Sunday. "There were no reported incidents of gun violence or gun-related activity," said Sgt. Linda Jackson, an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department spokeswoman.
Vernon Williams, IBE spokesman, said officials hope it is a turnaround that will carry over to future Summer Celebrations and help erase the taint of past violence.
"We're just extremely gratified," Williams said, "that there were no serious incidents last night."
He said several factors contributed to the turnaround. He cited a concerted, cooperative effort between police and Black Expo officials and the help of faith leaders, who mustered several hundred volunteers to monitor activity on the streets on Friday and Saturday nights.
Relocating the popular celebrity basketball game to the Indiana Convention Center from Conseco Fieldhouse was another positive change, Williams said. That kept attendees under one roof, so fewer young people roamed the streets getting from one venue to another, he said, and it "encouraged more parents to come into the convention center for other events instead of just dropping their kids off."
"There is no doubt about it that Mayor Ballard and the Police Department did a great job," Williams said. "We are very, very grateful for the way they stepped up and assured our citizens and visitors safe travel in and around the Downtown."
In a statement issued Sunday, Ballard said that "thousands of visitors to Downtown Indianapolis this weekend enjoyed events filled with activities for families and children, and they did so in an atmosphere of peace achieved with the tremendous support of our partners.
"I commend the Indiana Black Expo organizers, Summer Celebration participants, Ten Point Coalition and the many officers from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Marion County Sheriff's Department and Indiana State Police for their efforts working together to make the security surrounding this year's Summer Celebration a success."
While the police presence was very strong -- IMPD spokeswoman Jackson said she could not say Sunday how many officers were Downtown -- Williams said it was not too much.
"When you need to get things done on a serious level, you need to take serious steps," he said. "We wanted to make this a time when families and children and adults can come Downtown without fear, and they did that. I don't think any well-meaning person was bothered by the strong police presence. In fact, I would say it was comforting."
Tracy Williams, 44, Cincinnati, was among those happy to see the added police. Williams, who was attending his 14th Summer Celebration with his wife, their three children and his mother-in-law, said he had been concerned about safety at times in the past.
"This time I wasn't," he said. "It was a lot different this year -- I think they succeeded very well in keeping things under control."
Terry Jones, 33, Indianapolis, spent Saturday night at the Westin with two friends who came to town from Fort Wayne for the celebration. The added police presence Saturday night, he said, "made me feel protected."
As she waited for others to sign up for the health fair screenings Sunday, Tiffany Parker, 30, Indianapolis, said she was happy to hear there were no serious problems Saturday. But Parker said she still prefers to come with her kids on Sunday.
"It's not crowded like Saturday," she said. "There are just too many kids running around unsupervised."
Debra Majors, 56, Avon, attended Summer Celebration events Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Majors said she is attracted by the special events, such as Friday night's free concert, the health fair and Sunday's praise service. She also enjoys reconnecting with old friends and acquaintances.
"I like seeing old friends I haven't seen in a long time," she said. "It is almost like a family reunion."
Majors said the violence that has marred past events has troubled her because it distracts from all the good things that Summer Celebration has to offer.
"It did bother me that a few people cause problems when so many people are here to enjoy themselves," she said. "I'm really glad there weren't problems this year."
Laura Walker, 86, Indianapolis, attended the morning worship service Sunday before heading to tour the exhibition hall displays -- as she has done every year since Summer Celebration began. Although she was pleased by the lack of problems in the streets outside the convention center, Walker said some of it has been overhyped.
"A lot of things have been blown out of proportion -- and it really is not due to Expo," she said. "To me, this is one of the most educational opportunities people can have."
Even a pair of Indianapolis teens, who saw their last-Saturday-of-Expo-night routine changed, admitted it was -- ultimately -- a good thing.
"It was totally different this year," Amani Walton, 17, said of the scene Downtown. "There were so many police that you couldn't hardly breathe. And they split us up from our friends because they weren't letting big groups go into the mall and other places."
Jordanna Andrews, 17, who was volunteering with Walton at the health fair Sunday, gave the added security mixed reviews.
"The last couple of years, there were a lot more people out on the streets," she said. "When you're young, you want to be around a lot of people, checking them out and having fun. But as long as nobody got shot, it's a good thing."
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