4th of July Fireworks in Lock 3 — Canceled

The City of Akron Mayor's Office has canceled 4th of July fireworks.

The following is a press release from the Mayor's Office:

Akron, Ohio, July 4, 2022 — The City of Akron has issued a curfew for downtown Akron from 9pm-6am which will remain in effect until another order has been issued lifting the curfew. See the full order here. The fireworks which were scheduled for downtown Akron, the Patterson Park Sports Complex, and the Akron Fulton airport have all been cancelled for tonight.

Statement from Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan:

“Early yesterday, we had several peaceful protests in the downtown footprint related to the officer-involved shooting of Jayland Walker. These protests did not escalate to violence and destruction. I want to first thank them. As I stated yesterday, I fully support our residents’ right to peacefully assemble. What we have been calling for since the beginning, and what the Walker family and many community leaders and faith leaders have also urged, is peace. However, as night fell and others began to join, the protests became no longer peaceful. There was significant property damage done to downtown Akron. Small businesses up and down Main St. have had their windows broken. We cannot and will not tolerate violence or the destruction of property. In light of the damage that has occurred and in order to preserve peace in our community, I have declared a state of emergency, implemented a curfew and canceled the fireworks which were scheduled for tonight.”

For the purposes of this order, downtown Akron is delineated as follows:

North: SR 59 (Perkins St/MLK Jr. Blvd.)

West: SR 59 (MLK Jr. Blvd.)

South: I-76/I-77

East: SR 8

See map here.

Those excepted from the curfew restrictions are as follows:

1. All law enforcement, fire, and medical personnel and members of the news media, as well as other personnel authorized by the City of Akron, and the State of Ohio, or individuals otherwise exempt under the law.
2. Persons traveling directly between their place of work and their residence.
3. Persons traveling to seek medical care.
4. Persons fleeing from dangerous circumstances.