Keeping the Black Expo weekend celebration safe - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

Indiana Black Expo's Summer Celebration wraps up this weekend. The celebration is a weekend of fun for thousands, but it has also been overshadowed in the past with violence.

This year, a huge effort is being made to keep the streets safe. Nearly 400 police officers, augmented by about 200 clergy and lay people will be out with one goal: keep downtown safe this weekend. To do that, they need parents to help.

Reverend Charles Harrison, of the Ten Point Coalition said, "It's difficult to deal with four to five thousand kids who are unsupervised without adults and in many cases the faith community has to be the parents. So what would make it really successful is for parents to step up and so that's what we're asking parents to do."

Church leaders and police have been monitoring social media to prevent words and threats from turning into actions.

"Last year was a good year. We hope that this year is going to be a good year and we're really pushing the whole family concept. For families to come down and enjoy Expo and for parents to bring their kids; a lot of activities for kids but just to make sure we don't have a whole lot of unsupervised kids," said Harrison.

If you are coming downtown be aware of some traffic restrictions. Starting tonight at 6 p.m., several blocks surrounding American Legion Mall will be closed. That includes Meridian and Pennsylvania, North and St. Clair.

If children come down on their own, organizers are hoping parents will encourage their children to come home early. Remember, the curfew for children 15 and under is 11pm, and police will be enforcing curfew laws.