Community activists postpone rally today, November 7, on murdered 12-year-old Cleveland girl Davia Garth to allow family to grieve before tomorrow's funeral, will meet with city officials, law enforcement leaders over the epidemic of violence against women and children
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| 12-year-old Davia Garth |
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| Booking photo of suspected child murderer Rufus Gray |
Activists say that they first want to give the family a chance to grieve before funeral services for Garth that are set for Saturday, Nov 8 at 10 a.m. at Body of Christ Church on Miles Road.
Also, City of Cleveland Community Relations Board Director Blaine Griffin has agreed to schedule a meeting with community activists and victims of violence and their families.
"Just give us a date and I will set up the meeting," Griffin told community activist Kathy Wray Coleman, who leads the Imperial Women Coalition and helped to organize the now postponed rally.
Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams has also agreed to get back with Coleman by Monday, Nov 10 on whether he will schedule a meeting to deal with the ongoing problem of violence against women and children.
Griffin said that he cannot speak for others and may not have all the answers to the problem but that his door at City Hall is "open 24/7."
Coleman, who organized two pickets in front of the home of Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson over police negligence around the murders of 11 Black women on Imperial Avenue on Cleveland's east side by convicted serial killer Anthony Sowell, called the gesture fair.
"Activists discussed this and agree that we will let the family grieve first and will await a meeting with law enforcement and city officials on the ongoing epidemic of rape and murder of women and the arbitrary killings of our children," said Coleman."If they disrespect us as was done around the phony ground breaking for a never happening memorial on Imperial Avenue, we shall picket police and city officials."
"We will hold off out of respect for the family around
this tragedy but if city officials refuse to meet after making a promise to do so, we will then look at our options," said longtime community activist Ada Averyhart, 80.
"I agree that we should wait," said Angelique Malone , 30, whose mother Christine Malone was murdered in 2013 on Cleveland's east side along with two other women along a stretch near E. 93rd St. and Bessemer Ave. The killers or serial killer are still at large.
Angelique Malone is one of eight surviving children of Christine Malone.
"I can wait but I was ready for a rally," said community activist Pier Napier.
"We are available but will follow the consensus of the group," said longtime community activists Dr. Stewart and Valerie Robinson.
Alethea Thomas, also a community activist, said that she agrees to the rally postponement and so does community activist Christine Wilson.
Longtime Cleveland schools children advocate Mary Keith said that it is okay to wait to rally and that she will look forward to a meeting on the state of affairs of Black children in Cleveland.
"Just call me and I will be ready, " said Keith.
Rufus Gray, 59, who is currently in custody, had been arrested for domestic violence and released from jail with no charges weeks earlier. He was released even though he was still on probation for a domestic attack against the same woman, a Cleveland 19 Action News report reveals.
Community activists want answers on why Gray was released.
Police say Gray shot and wounded his wife, Sonya Garth-Gray, and shot and killed his 12-year-old stepdaughter, Davia Garth. Davia Garth's older brother wrestled the gun away from his stepfather. Sonya Garth-Gray was treated at a local hospital and later released, some of the bullets still lodged in her arms.
His wife has filed for divorce five times, public records reveal. Four times she dropped cases, with the last just starting to work its way through court.
Gray was also under a protective order.
Gray was also under a protective order.
A fund has been set up in the child's name at Fifth Third Bank
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