March against violence for girl shot in Avondale

Three days after a 4-year-old was shot in the head in Avondale, demonstrators marched and demanded an end to the violence.

“Our children are not target practice,” said Jamille Collins, of East Price Hill.

Martaisha Thomas, 4, was shot in the 700 block of Ridgeway Avenue on Thursday around 8:15 p.m. She is in critical condition at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.

Thomas’ godmother had taken her to the apartment for a barbecue, said Ronald Fairbanks Jr., the girl’s uncle.

Police said the gunman was targeting someone in the group and leaned out of a car window to shoot.

This marks the second time in July that a child was shot and seriously injured in Avondale.

China Kinebrew, 6, lost her left eye after she was shot July 5 near the intersection of Hale and Harvey avenues – just .3 miles away from where Thomas was shot.

“This isn’t just an Avondale issue,” Collins said. “If our children can’t sit outside their homes, where can they be safe at?

Collins is a substance abuse counselor in Walnut Hills. After she heard about the shooting, she organized the march.

“Our city is in turmoil,” Laveeta Holloway said. “And we need to fix it.”

Holloway stood with a sign that read “Stop the violence. Protect our children.”

Demonstrators gathered in front of the apartment where Thomas was shot and marched down Ridgeway Avenue, stopping for prayer before continuing up Reading Road to return to the apartment complex.

The march was broken up with words of prayer, anger and despair as family members addressed the crowd.

“This violence, all of it, just needs to stop,” said Donald Fairbanks Jr., Thomas’s grandfather. “I’m tired, I’m fed up. I want it to stop, please.” His words were broken with emotion.

The crowd demanded that witnesses come forward with information to bring the shooter to justice.

“We have to get these people off the streets,” said Peggy Harris. “We have to stop this no snitch stuff that is killing our communities.”

Harris’ son, John, was shot to death in 2007 in Northside.

“Enough is enough,” Collins said. “We will not tolerate this violence. Silence is compliance.”

Tracie Hunter, a suspended Hamilton County Juvenile Court judge, addressed the crowd for a prayer during the march.

“Black lives matter,” Hunter said. “But they won’t matter until we say they matter to all of us first.”

After the march, the girl’s mother addressed the crowd.

“I lost my 4-year-old,” said Deaisha Hummons. “I lost my heartbeat.”

Hummons said her daughter is fighting for her life in the hospital. She said the girl loved to dance and to sing.

“I just want peace and happiness for my family,” Hummons said. “My daughter was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”