wfn.org | Episcopalians: Southern Ohio bishop opposes UBE's Cincinnati boycott decision

[dmack@episcopalchurch.org]

May 1, 2002

2002-107

Episcopalians: Southern Ohio bishop opposes UBE's Cincinnati 
boycott decision

by Jan Nunley

(ENS) Bishop Herbert Thompson, Jr. of Southern Ohio issued a 
statement May 1 expressing his "regret" at a decision by the 
board of the Union of Black Episcopalians (UBE) not to go to 
Cincinnati for its annual meeting and conference in July. 

"UBE leadership appears to have based this decision on past 
press reports rather than the extraordinary progress this city 
has made in recent months," Thompson said. "Over the past year, 
Cincinnati citizens have worked together for meaningful change 
aimed at achieving racial equality and dismantling barriers that 
limit opportunity.  New programs have begun to address 
grievances and intentional dialogue has been taking place in 
neighborhoods across the city....

"The struggle against racism remains an issue for every American 
city. I am proud that Cincinnati has stepped to the forefront in 
this struggle and that so many people in this community continue 
to work tirelessly to make Cincinnati not just a better city, 
but a model city for all America. I am equally honored to serve 
the Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Southern Ohio as we 
continue to strive for justice and peace among all people and 
respect the dignity of every human being," the statement 
concluded.

Patterns of racial injustice cited

Responding to a call for a boycott, the UBE board voted not to 
go to Cincinnati because of racial tensions and what the board 
called a failure by the city's leaders to address them "in any 
meaningful way." The decision was announced in a letter 
dated April 11.

The Southern Ohio chapter of UBE had offered to host the 2002 
meeting in Cincinnati at the 2000 meeting. But the national 
board noted that since 1995 over a dozen young black men have 
been killed by Cincinnati police, and the shooting of Timothy 
Thomas on April 7, 2001, touched off three days of rioting and 
protest by the black community. 

"The shooting of this unarmed black man was merely a palpable 
and poignant manifestation of the racial injustices that had 
gone unaddressed for years," the board's letter stated. 
"Fact-finding over the past year has documented a pervasive 
alleged pattern of racial profiling, brutality, and callous 
disregard for the rights of black citizens by the Cincinnati 
police. The City of Cincinnati refused to confront and tackle 
the legitimate demands of the black community for educational, 
economic and political equality."

Two community-based groups, the Black United Front and the 
Coalition for a Just Cincinnati, issued a call for an economic 
boycott of the city by all social groups, businesses, 
conventions and entertainers. So far, Bill Cosby, Whoopie 
Goldberg, Smokey Robinson, Wynton Marsalis, and the Progressive 
National Baptist Convention have all canceled previous plans to 
come to Cincinnati.  

The UBE board noted that the organization will have to pay "a 
significant economic price" for the decision, including a 
$61,000 charge for terminating the hotel contract.

No assurances for youth

The board said it was "not unmindful" of recent efforts by 
Cincinnati officials to address racial issues, but questioned 
the time and effort it has taken for the city to begin remedies 
and whether the delays demonstrate a lack of good faith on the 
part of the city. The board also expressed  "deep concerns about 
the safety and well-being of our young people on the streets of 
Cincinnatiit is of paramount importance that we be able to 
assure our youth attending this Conference that they will not be 
subjected to questionable conduct on the part of the Cincinnati 
police department. Given the current level of racial tension, 
the ongoing issues of police insensitivity, and a city 
administration that has yet to prove its commitment to change in 
any demonstrable way, we cannot give those assurances. "

The board is asking local chapters to hold three or four 
regional conclaves focusing on the intended theme of the 
national gathering, which was "Witnessing Our Faith: Disciples 
Making Disciples."

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--The Rev. Jan Nunley is deputy director of Episcopal News 
Service.