A-Infos (en) US, Boycott of Cincinnati Continues Despite Lawsuit

[bgarry <bgarry@fuse.net>]

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      A - I N F O S  N E W S  S E R V I C E
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THE COALITION FOR A JUST CINCINNATI
P.O. Box 14954, Cincinnati, Ohio 45250-0954
WWW.CINCYBOYCOTT.ORG            CINCYBOYCOTT@YAHOO.COM

PRESS CONTACTS FOR THIS RELEASE:
Rev. Stephen Scott                         Amanda E. Mayes
(513) 921-4140                             (513) 961-3818
                                           AmandaEMayes@hotmail.com

PRESS RELEASE -- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- March 26, 2002

Boycott of Cincinnati Continues Despite Lawsuit

The Coalition for a Just Cincinnati will not call off the boycott on
Cincinnati despite a pending lawsuit. The Cincinnati Arts Association,
(CAA)
which manages local government-owned venues, has filed a lawsuit in the
Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas against individuals active in the
Coalition for a Just Cincinnati, alleging tortious interference with a
contract. The suit comes in the wake of a string of national performers
canceling their scheduled appearances in Cincinnati.  The lawsuit asks
for
$88,850 in damages due to cancellations, and $500,000 in punitive
damages.

On February 28, the Coalition received a letter from the CAA,
threatening to
sue the organization and the individuals who have led a boycott of
Cincinnati.  On March 15, 2002, in United States District Court, the
Coalition for a Just Cincinnati filed an action for declaratory relief
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2201. This action seeks a declaration that the
letter of 2/28/02, from the Cincinnati Arts Association, constitutes an
impermissible restraint of our First Amendment rights.  On March 18,
2002,
the CAA followed through with its threat of suit.

In April of last year, citizens of Cincinnati rose up following the
killing
of Timothy Thomas, an unarmed 19-year-old African American man, by a
white
police officer in Over-the-Rhine. Thomas was the 15th African-American
man
killed by the police in the last five years, a fact that highlights the
lack
of civilian control of the City's police force, and a 'battle-zone'
approach
to policing the City's inner-city neighborhoods. Conditions of extreme
poverty exist in nine Cincinnati neighborhoods designated by HUD as
"economic disaster areas."  Basic human rights are denied citizens of
Cincinnati, with an ordinance written into the City Charter that denies
equal protection in housing and employment on the basis of sexual
orientation.  The boycott was enacted after calls to address these
severe
problems in our city continued to fall on deaf ears.

The boycott calls for sanctions on tourism and conventions throughout
Cincinnati, and urges people living in and near Cincinnati to avoid
spending
money in the downtown business district. In addition, in January of this

year, the Coalition for a Just Cincinnati began the "Artists of
Conscience"
campaign, which calls for all Artists of Conscience to honor the boycott
and
to refuse to perform in Cincinnati. In recent weeks several artists
including Bill Cosby, Whoopi Goldberg, Smokey Robinson, Wynton Marsalis
and
others have canceled their scheduled performances.

The Coalition for a Just Cincinnati will stay its course until real
change
begins in Cincinnati.  Solutions would include real advancement in the
areas
of economic equality, education and a local government responsive to the

needs of the inner city. After fulfilling our civic duty of petitioning,

voicing our opinions in city council meetings, and filing grievances, a
boycott became necessary. It is our only viable, non-violent means of
getting the city government's attention. Despite these efforts, local
leaders seem to be digging in their heels, not only refusing to meet and

negotiate with us but calling us "economic terrorists".  Our position
remains unchanged.  The boycott will continue until City and County
leaders
sit down with us to address our collective basic rights.
                               ##



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