By Cindy Kranz
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Carol Cannon, a member of Mother of Murdered Sons and Daughters, talks about her two sons during a meeting at the New Prospect Baptist Church in Over the Rhine. (Ernest Coleman photo) | ZOOM |

Carol Cannon wants to help stop black-on-black violence before others join her as members of Mothers of Murdered Sons/Daughters (MOMS)

"This is an organization you don't want to belong to," the Evanston woman told about 200 people Wednesday afternoon at New Prospect Baptist Church. Her two sons were murdered, in 1995 and 1997. One was shot in the head 11 times.

"We need to put the weapons down," an impassioned Mrs. Cannon said. "Young people are dying because nobody is taking the time to show them anything. ... You need to teach them love, respect, character, sharing and knowledge."

The crowd gathered at the Over-the-Rhine church to hear about the Peace Down the Way Project - supported by a coalition of civil rights, religious and social service organizations. The coalition has pledged to fight black-on-black crime and has declared a moratorium on violence.

Of 2002's 65 homicide victims in Cincinnati - a 15-year high - more than 75 percent were African-American. Black men between the ages of 18 and 29 made up about half of all homicide victims.

As if to punctuate the urgency of the work, just minutes after the meeting ended, a black man was shot in the 1700 block of Elm Street, one block from the church. Less than an hour later, another black man was shot in the 1200 block of Vine Street. In both cases, the men were shot in the leg.

"The black community has to say out of our mouths, 'Enough is enough,''' said the Rev. Damon Lynch III, pastor of New Prospect and president of Cincinnati Black United Front, a project member. "The blood of our children spilled on the streets has to stop."

The coalition plans to send trained volunteers onto the streets to interact with at-risk youths and adults, encourage schools to provide conflict resolution training and air public service announcements that promote peace. The project will focus on Over-the-Rhine and the West End, expanding later into other neighborhoods.

Local musician Bootsy Collins told the crowd that young people today are bombarded by messages of materialism.

"You've got to have this. You've got to have the cars. How can you not get hooked? And we turn around and blame them. The kids can't help themselves. We need to help them help themselves. We have to show them there's a better way."

For starters, speakers said, children need to learn self-respect and self-worth. The coalition will send a mailing to every household, asking if there's anything it can do to help families. The mailing will include buttons for children that say, "I'm a Beautiful Child. Treat Me With Respect."

After the meeting, those who attended signed a violence moratorium pledge and talked about this effort to come together to fight black-on-black crime.

"I'm very encouraged there are so many coming together to make a statement and move forward," said Veronica Nelson, 32, of Bond Hill. "I have a lot of younger boys in my family, so it concerns me."

Camille Robinson, 26, of Fairfield Township, had two cousins die in violent crimes last year, in Birmingham, Ala., and Indianapolis.

She believes young people need to know there's more for them than making $400 a day on a street corner. They need job training, economic empowerment and respect, she said.

"Their worth is not tied up in physical cash," she said.

Moved by the murder of his friend, Curtis Johnson pledged to help.

"I feel it's time for a change, so I'll be participating in the movement," said the 24-year-old Over-the-Rhine man. His friend, 21-year-old Gregory Beauchamp, became the 65th homicide victim of 2002 Tuesday night.

Mr. Johnson knows, though, that changing minds and hearts won't be easy. He works at LeBlond Boys and Girls Club in Over-the-Rhine, where memberships dropped by 20 percent last year, he said.

"They find the streets more appealing than the center," he said.

E-mail ckranz@enquirer.com