Freedom Center hosts solutions symposium to tackle Cincinnati violence tonight

DOWNTOWN - The National Underground Freedom Center tonight hosts a symposium to look for possible solutions to the outbreak of violence in Cincinnati, an event held in conjunction with the ongoing "Kin Killin' Kin" exhibit by Avondale native James Pate.

The panel includes Cincinnati Police Chief Eliot Isaac, Cincinnati's U.S. Attorney Carter Stewart, local victim rights advocate Hope Dudley, Cincinnati Children's Hospital and Medical Center emergency room Dr. Vincent Garcia, and Rev. Ennis Tait, who heads up an anti-violence organization known as CeaseFire. Isaac released a new anti-violence strategy Monday.

Enquirer investigative reporter James Pilcher will moderate the event, which begins at 7 p.m. at the Freedom Center. The exhibit features Pate's artwork, which depicts black men in the inner city shooting at each other while dressed in Ku Klux Klan robes. It also includes photographs, violence data and videos from Enquirer staffers including Samuel Greene, Carrie Cochran and Amanda Rossmann.

What's behind the rise in Cincinnati shootings?

The Enquirer first reported in September on the explosion in gun violence in the city, and year end figures showed that there were 510 shootings in Cincinnati in 2015, a nearly 28 percent increase as compared with the previous year, hitting its highest total this decade. In addition, there were 71 homicides in Cincinnati.

The event is free to the public, although the Freedom Center is taking RSVP's through Facebook here.