A group of educators, business leaders and ministers hopes to give a voice to those who want to unite Cincinnati's races but don't know how.

        The group, which has about 25 members, is coordinating Unity Day, to be held July 16 on Fountain Square.

        Event organizers will distribute joined black and white ribbons, which they hope people will wear for several months. Pewter pins symbolizing unity also will be on sale for $5.

        “This would be a way for people to come together without political pressure or meetings so they can just talk or smile,” said business owner Lou Buschle of Louis Buschle & Associates, one of the event coordinators.

        Organizers hope those attending the event will strike up a conversation, listen to music or go to lunch with people of different races.

        Unity Day comes after racial unrest in Cincinnati since the April 7 shooting death of Timothy Thomas, an unarmed black man, by a white Cincinnati police officer in Over-the-Rhine. The shooting sparked the city's worst riots and protests since 1968.

        An informal discussion group headed by Dr. Lionel Brown, an adjunct professor at the University of Cincinnati, was founded following the shooting to ad dress the city's racial discord. Members include Mr. Buschle, a CPA; Randy Sandler, owner of Cincinnati Art Galleries; and the Rev. Calvin Harper, pastor of Walnut Hills' Morning Star Baptist Church. They conceived the Unity Day plan. Also working on the event is the Cincinnati Business Committee and organizers of the Ujima Cinci-Bration.

        United Day organizers say years of racial divide have cordoned off parts of the city — right down to its festivals.

        The group hopes people will wear the Unity Day ribbons and pins at festivals that traditionally draw mostly one race, such as the Coors Light Festival and Oktoberfest, Mr. Buschle said. The goal is to make those festivals all-inclusive, he said.

        The Coors Light Festival at Cinergy Field and Ujima Cinci-Bration, downtown, will be held July 20-22. Oktoberfest is held downtown in the fall.

        “A lot of people don't know how to express themselves” about the racial divide, Mr. Sandler said. “Hopefully this will allow some people to take a stand.”

Monitor: Census missed 1% in county
NKU is growing up fast
Bank robberies up despite risk, low yield
Born on 4th of July? So is baby's older sis
Strong holiday spirit on display
Unity Day presented as festival for all races
Man leads church he once left
Phony UC prof speaks out in Chinese newspaper
Suspect charged in slaying
More days for a swim
New building to detain juveniles
Park promotes peace and quiet
Bill would raise penalty for assault in ER
East Covington will get say on aid
Golf outing to aid students from Holmes
Judge orders woman to change attire before sentencing
Man arrested in bank robbery
Ohio couple aims to build house made from garbage
Teen kicks off tour down under
Tuition in Ohio soaring
Wilkinson takes the Fifth - 140 times
Kentucky News Briefs
Tristate A.M. Report