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| UCC leaders, executive council support boycott of Cinncinnati |
| CLEVELAND, OH - Leaders at the national offices
of the United Church of Christ (UCC) announced the decision and rationale of its Executive
Council to add the UCC’s name to a growing list of those calling for a boycott of the
City of Cincinnati. The boycott comes in the wake of last year’s racial unrest and
the city’s failure to implement promised social and economic justice reforms. A simultaneous press conference, supported by Ministers for Racial, Social, and Economic Justice, (composed of the denomination’s African-American clergy) was also held in Cincinnati with local UCC, and other ecumenical leaders present. This issue has risen to a heightened level of importance for many UCC leaders and members across the nation. Such concern compels UCC General Minister and President, the Rev. John H. Thomas, as well as the Executive Minister for Justice and Witness Ministries, Bernice Powell Jackson and UCC African-American clergy to add their voices to a growing list of religious, civic, civil rights and entertainment leaders who are calling on the City of Cincinnati to end its pattern of injustice, a pattern reminiscent of the pre-civil rights era. “The Spirit of the Lord calls us to let the oppressed go free,” says Thomas. “For too long, African-Americans in Cincinnati have suffered from poverty, inadequate health care, and discriminatory treatment.” Jackson stated, “We know that witnessing for justice is not easy. Old patterns are hard to change. But it is long past time for racial justice in Cincinnati. We celebrate the progress being made in Cincinnati. The historic agreements which have been signed regarding the police and racial profiling are important steps toward racial justice and reconciliation. Now we call on our church members and all people of faith and good will to continue the struggle until justice in health, housing, employment, and education are achieved. We affirm our faith in the God who makes all things new. Through God’s grace and the hard work of people of faith, we look forward to the dawning of a new heaven, a new earth, and a new spirit among the people of Cincinnati.” The UCC national offices and General Synod speak to but not for its 1.4 million members and 6,000 congregations. The Executive Council of the United Church of Christ will support the boycott of the city of Cincinnati until the following proposals of the Black United Front are addressed: 1. Economic Justice (e.g., economic development, housing, labor rights, public education, and public health); 2. Public accountability of the police; including a Cincinnati Citizens Police Review Panel which has financially and administratively independent investigative staff; age of African-Americans police officers to reflect the demographics of the city; 3. Support and enforcement of civil and human rights, including investigation into the aggressive prosecution of political protestors which in some cases denying protesters reasonable bail and a speedy trial while ignoring the criminal infractions of police officers; 4. Repeal of “Issue 3” which is now Article XII of the Cincinnati City Charter which prohibits the city from enforcing equal protection in housing, public accommodation and employment on the basis of sexual orientation; 5. Amnesty for people arrested for curfew and other violations during the rebellion against injustice; 6. Enactment of city government and election reform. |
| June Archives |