CINCINNATI — About a dozen downtown businesses were boarded up Wednesday and glass littered sidewalks following two nights of protests over the police shooting of an unarmed black man.
There were few people on the streets as the Cincinnati archdiocese canceled classes at two inner-city Roman Catholic schools and police urged curiosity-seekers to stay out of the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood.
On Tuesday, gangs of roving youths looted stores, set fires and attacked motorists with bricks, forcing residents to lock themselves indoors while clergy members and politicians appealed for calm.
The rioting was sparked by the killing of Timothy Thomas, 19, who was shot while fleeing a white police officer. Thomas, 19, wanted on 14 misdemeanor warrants, was the fourth black man killed by police since November.
Police Spc. Scott Johnson had urged people not to go into the streets Tuesday night for their own safety.
"There is fear everywhere," said Johnson, head of the Sentinel Police Association, a black officer's group. "There is fear in the police and on the other side, and people are not distinguishing between those who are causing trouble and those who are bringing peace."
Earlier Tuesday, officers clad in helmets and shields set up protective rings around City Hall and police headquarters and fired bean bags and rubber bullets at about 50 demonstrators who roamed downtown streets throwing rocks, cans and bottles.
Police on horseback, accompanied by shotgun-armed foot patrols, arrested 66 people on rioting, disorderly conduct and other charges.
Fire department paramedics took about 25 people to hospitals and treated about 40 others on the streets, said police Lt. Ray Ruberg.
The injured included people hit by police with rubber bullets.
The City Council canceled its Wednesday meeting because of the unrest.
Mayor Charles Luken appealed for calm discussion and an end to the violence during a news conference.
Rev. Damon Lynch III, pastor of New Prospect Baptist Church, also urged peace.
"There has to be another voice out there saying we understand your pain and we are with you, but violence is not the answer," Lynch, leader of Cincinnati Black United Front, told a meeting of about 150 people.
Churchgoers who'd planned a peaceful march to a nearby park were turned back as police cordoned off the area.
Police Chief Thomas Streicher Jr. on Monday offered condolences to Thomas' family.
Police union president Keith Fangman said the officer, Steve Roach, thought Thomas had a gun and feared for his life. Roach was placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard procedure after police shootings.