Behind The Lines: The Untold Story of the Cincinnati Riots

by Peter Bronson

April 7-14, 2001, Cincinnati, Ohio is torn apart. Sparked by police shooting in a dark alleyway, long-simmering frustrations boiled over as citizens stormed City Council chambers, and finding no answers there, took to the streets to vent their political anger on shopkeepers, unwary motorists, and the police. The stories that spilled out of the Queen City appeared nationally, on the front page of newspapers, including The New York Times, and on TV and radio broadcasts. Almost as scripted, the violence came to a halt on Good Friday, 2001 and the whole episode seemingly disappeared into the shadows of September 11th five months later. Now, five years later, untold stories of what took place at the eye of the storm and behind the scenes have finally emerged. As issues linger in city politics and neighborhoods, it's a story that needs to be told, talked about, and revisited in hopes of creating a beter city going forward. In clear-eyed and balanced reporting, veteran newsman and Cincinnati Enquirer columnist Peter Bronson circled back to get the story from the people who were on the front lines - the police, the politicians and the people on the street. In their words and actions, the reader will see that the real story of what happened that week in April, as well as in the months before and after, is different from what was reported then. Bronson gains access to the inner sanctums of political leaders and renegade activists to fill the stage with perspectives not captured in the fray. Most of all, readers will gain a vantage point from the center of the turmoil as the cops who put their lives on the line to protect the city are often misled, not listened to, or stifled by bureaucracy and cowardice. This is an important chapter in the city's history, with critical lessons for any city that hopes to avoid similar mistakes.

Paperback

First published April 3, 2006

Reviews

[Tamela Rich · Rating 2 out of 5]

The former editor of the Cincinnati Enquirer's editorial page wrote this book about the city's 2001 uprising in its Over The Rhine neighborhood. His focus is the major players in the conflict, including the mayor, city manager, police chief, civil rights leaders, and media personalities—their actions, inaction, miscalculations, and persecutions of each other.

I was hoping to read a historical account of the "real story" as touted on the cover copy. Sadly, Bronson disparages the dress, mannerisms, and speech of the people siding against the city and its agencies, making the book an extension of his editorial oeuvre instead of journalism. His overt bias makes it difficult to trust the narrative.

[Kristyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cincinnati's police department has earned a bad rap, but I think it's largely unfair. I feel more knowledgeable about this subject, which I think it is important for citizens of Cincinnati to be well informed about. Still, I think the causes were so emotional, and so many things were mishandled, that it is hard to point your finger at one event, and say "so that's what happened to start all this off." Since I didn't live in Cincinnati during the riots, the book did help me understand some of the fears that our suburban friends have of certain neighborhoods downtown. How sad. It will take a long time for the city and the downtown to heal from the damage the riots caused.
One thing I did like was that this was a locally published book. Chilidog press. How appropriate.

[Deb Amend · Rating 2 out of 5]

There was some interesting insight into the riots and the happenings within the city leading up to and after the riots. The book is incredibly slanted, though. And, the writing is in serious need of
editing. Serious.

[Tammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting read into the Cincinnati riots.