Lashawn Pettus-Brown, promoter of Soul Festival 2002 set for July 27 at U.S. Bank Arena, says his event will go on as scheduled, despite being targeted by the Cincinnati boycott.

        “The artists are on board. They're going to be at the show,” he said Wednesday.

        Mr. Pettus-Brown, 25, a former Taft High School basketball star who plays professionally in Japan, is president and CEO of PBI Entertainment, which is renovating the Empire Theater on Vine Street in Over-the-Rhine.

        “I'm not against the boycott, I'm not for it,” he said. “I understand points for and points against. But I'm going to do my business.”

        Soul Festival 2002 features Cincinnati favorites Frankie Beverly & Maze, Cincinnati natives the Isley Brothers and Dayton's '80s funk veterans Lakeside. Tickets are $27-$52, and Mr. Pettus-Brown said he would donate $2.50 per ticket to the Urban League.

        He expects to draw about 7,000 people, which would result in a $17,500 donation.

        A meeting between Mr. Pettus-Brown and boycott leader Nate Livingston failed to resolve the matter.

        “I don't expect then to back down, and they should not expect me to cancel,” said the promoter. “And they should not expect my artists to cancel.”

        He cited minority businesses that have been hurt by the boycott of downtown entertainment, including Washington Limousine Service and Mr. Pig barbecue restaurant.

        “Those are the people who are being hurt by the boycott. I'm trying to rebuild my city. We have to keep doing business. We can't sit here and kill the heart of the city, because the rest of the city will die,” said Mr. Pettus-Brown.

        “I will not cancel the Soul Festival.”

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