A half dozen elected officials gathered in front of the Sowell house to address neighbors and reporters, offerring what they hoped would be words of comfort and support.
Council President Martin Sweeney told assembled Third Ward residents that they should not feel singled out that the murders happened in their area.
MARTIN SWEENEY: "This is so senseless; it is disturbing. This could have happened on any street in the City of Cleveland, and we are all standing with you as a council, as a community. And we have to talk about right now... the healing, the mourning."
Other members spoke, but then as they tried to take questions from reporters, the group was shouted at by angry residents, who accused the city of ignoring the victims because of their backgrounds. As councilman Kenneth Johnson tried speaking, another resident began demanding to know why Mayor Frank Jackson was not at the scene.
BYSTANDER: "It's a concern in the community, and I understand that he don't do it, but at this time - it's not about politics, it's about making your presence, to let the people of this city know that you can care."
Sweeney and Johnson answered just a few of the protests before leaving the podium - and a neighborhood that is growing increasingly angry over the deaths of 11 women.
