Protesters gather to mark one-year anniversary since shooting triggered riots in Cincinnati

CINCINNATI (AP) -- Chanting "No justice, no peace," hundreds of marchers denounced what they called an enduring racial divide in the year since the police shooting of an unarmed black man.

Police gave protesters a wide berth Sunday at gatherings at City Hall, downtown, police headquarters and in the alley where Timothy Thomas, 19, was shot after he fled from officers who tried to arrest him last April 7.

"Here we are a year later and not much has changed. I guess the city didn't think we were serious. Are we serious?" Victoria Straughn of the Coalition of Concerned Citizens for Justice asked the crowd, which responded with cheers.

Although the protesters only had a permit to march to City Hall, several hundred marched another five blocks to police headquarters. There were no arrests.

The city says much has changed since Thomas was killed, but activists disagree. They contend the city has not done enough to help black residents economically and that the rights of blacks continue to be violated.

The rally came a day before the Fraternal Order of Police and the American Civil Liberties Union were to announce their votes on acceptance of a tentative settlement to a lawsuit alleging systemic harassment of blacks.

The City Council and the Black United Front already have approved the settlement, which would create an independent agency to investigate complaints against the police and institute numerous reforms in police procedures.

The city admitted no wrongdoing in reaching the tentative settlement. U.S. District Judge Susan Dlott had said that all parties must approve it by Tuesday to avoid a trial.