DRUG PROTEST ATTRACTS CROWD

LIMA - When Ruth Glover saw Jesse Lowe II recently standing alone on
a street corner protesting drugs, she knew she would join him.

"I told him, 'You don't have to stand alone. I'll be there with you,'
" she said.

Lowe certainly did not stand alone Saturday.

At least 50 people at one point braved unlike-spring temperatures and
periods of rain to gather on two corners at the intersection of Cole
and North streets. A gathering earlier in the week in the south end
of the city attracted just 15 people.

Lowe hopes more people will become active in their neighborhoods, and
stand up against drug use and drug dealers crippling the community.

"When crimes are being committed, drugs are being brought in, they
need to start opening their mouths and letting individuals know that
they're not going to tolerate it in their neighborhoods, their
workplace or in their schools," he said.

Drivers honked as they passed the protestors, many who held "drugs
bring death" signs. A few held signs reading "keep hope alive, cast
drugs aside."

Bob Lewis said the signs say it all, adding that it's not fair for
people to be held hostage in their homes because of drugs and the
violence that comes along as a result.

"We have to take our neighborhoods back," he said. "But we have to do
it in a nice way, no violence."

The protests will send the right message to drug dealers, Lewis
believes.

"You take your business somewhere else," he said.

Another protest is planned for 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday at the corner of
Grand Avenue and North Main Street. Lowe has bigger plans than just
protesting. He hopes to bring people together to talk about solutions
to Lima's drug problem.

Saturday's protest brought out people from all walks of life, just as
Lowe had hoped. Children came with parents and neighborhood group
members met each other at the corner.

Pat Miron, president of the Hoover Park Neighborhood Association,
said Lowe's goals are the same as neighborhood associations'. Members
of her group called and said they needed to stand with him.

"We feel we should be taking a stand against drugs," Miron said. "We
think by us being visible sends a message that we do work together,
and want the city to be back to the way it was."

Among those protesting were Lima Councilmen Tom Tebben and David
Adams. Tebben was drawn there by Lowe's commitment.

"Some people we call leaders in the black community talk about the
problems, and Jesse Lowe is taking action," he said. "To me, that is
what leadership really is and I wanted to show him support."

Robert Horton III, worries about black-on-black crime plaguing the
city. He brought his two children Saturday, wanting to teach them to
stand up for their neighborhood.

Glover said drugs have affected her family, and probably most all
families in the city. It's another reason she plans to keep protesting.

"Any little thing that I can do to bring awareness to drug abuse and
dealing, I'll do it," she said. "I don't know how much we can do to
stop it, but at least we can make them aware that we're watching,
we're keeping an eye on them and protecting our families."