TOLEDO, Ohio – In a powerful display of unity and grief, protesters gathered outside Lucas County Children Services (LCCS) on Monday to demand accountability following the tragic death of 13-year-old Kei’Mani Latigue. The young girl’s lifeless body was discovered in an abandoned house in Toledo, sparking outrage and raising questions about the effectiveness of child protective services in the region.
The protest, which began at 1 p.m., lasted nearly three hours and drew a large crowd of concerned community members. At the heart of the demonstration was a call for greater transparency and accountability from LCCS. The protesters, many of whom were parents, educators, and local residents, were united by a shared desire to ensure that the system meant to protect vulnerable children works more effectively.
“I think they need to be held accountable,” said Lena Roosevelt, a protester who was present at the rally. “They need to be looking into cases like it is their own family. Children’s lives are at stake.”
The protestors gathered to honor Kei’Mani’s memory and to express frustration that such tragedies continue to occur. They emphasized the importance of ensuring that cases involving children at risk are handled with urgency and compassion.
Roosevelt, like many others, voiced concerns about the lack of intervention that could have potentially prevented Kei’Mani’s death. “All we can do is come together and try to save the next child,” Roosevelt stated. “If we can just keep that going and help the next one before it’s too late, like it was with her, that’s all we can do.”
The protest began with a community prayer at Spring Elementary School, where Kei’Mani had been a student. Afterward, the group marched to the LCCS headquarters, growing in number as the afternoon went on. Protesters chanted and held signs, while passing cars honked in support. Many in the crowd expressed a deep sense of urgency about the need to protect children and prevent further tragedies.
For many of those present, the protest was not just about seeking justice for Kei’Mani but also about bringing about systemic change to prevent future harm to children in the area. “When it comes to our own, we come together,” Roosevelt said. “To see everybody come together was so beautiful. Our voice will be heard, and we want justice for her and any other child.”
Community leaders like Roosevelt also called for a broader conversation about how to better protect children. “Talk to your kids, talk to your children’s teachers, be proactive and follow up,” Roosevelt urged. “Something needs to be done.”
As the protest continued into the afternoon, the message from the community was clear: the time for change is now. Protesters are demanding action and accountability from those responsible for protecting children, hoping that their voices will spark the changes needed to safeguard the future of Toledo’s children.
The protest marks the beginning of a renewed effort to ensure that children like Kei’Mani are never again left vulnerable to violence and neglect. It remains to be seen what steps LCCS will take in response to the calls for reform, but the Toledo community is determined to keep fighting for justice and better protection for their children.