Poem panned in council

Some reaction to Nikki Giovanni's Fountain Square opening poem:


Chris Bortz: "I thought for, for the most part, it was a very moving and impassioned cultural description of Cincinnati. And I thought one part was astonishingly inappropriate. It was a time to celebrate the development of our square and not engage in political grandstanding."

Laketa Cole: It’s freedom of speech. I was a little caught off guard, but are we having a problem with it because the comment was negative? She made a comment about (Cincinnati Mayor) Mark Mallory, and no one is saying anything about that. I was quite surprised, but at the end of the day Fountain Square is supposed to be a symbol of free speech."

David Crowley: "I thought it (the poem) was kind of boring up until that point. Was it appropriate? Poets have great license. Nothing was really hurt or damaged."

Chris Monzel: "I thought it was totally unacceptable. It was crass. For a grand opening of such a great aspect of our city, it kind of ruined (the event). I was shocked, (especially) when she talked about police officers shooting black men in the back. That is revisionist, and I thought it was a cheap shot."