By William A. Weathers
Enquirer staff writer

DOWNTOWN - A half dozen people demonstrated outside Christ Church Cathedral on Monday protesting the Union of Black Episcopalians meeting here, defying the economic boycott of Cincinnati.

The protest was jointly sponsored by the Black United Front, Coalition of Concerned Citizens and the First Coalition for a Just Cincinnati.

But the national president of the Union of Black Episcopalians said Sunday that the group's meeting this week in Cincinnati is not meant to dishonor the boycott.

"I believe that there are times when witness is as important as the boycott," the Rev. Dr. Sandye A. Wilson said. "We can witness by our presence to the realism of the continued sin of racism in this country and across the land."

The mere presence and prayers of 400 members attending the conference is statement in itself of the group's support of the various demands of the boycotters, Wilson said. And the group's presence in Cincinnati may help transform the community for the better, she said.

"We do not dishonor the economic boycott. We are not ignoring the realism of racism and discrimination,'' Wilson said. "And we're not in town to spent a lot of money in the community."

The group rotates its annual meeting to chapters around the country, and the Cincinnati chapter offered to be the host city this year, Wilson said.

Wilson said the conference schedule includes a reconciliation session on Wednesday, and Mayor Charlie Luken and other community representatives are slated to attend.

The Black Episcopalians had originally scheduled their 2002 conference in the Queen City, but canceled it to honor the economic boycott, Wilson said.

The group "suffered significant economic loss for making that choice," she said.

The boycott groups say they want more money spent to revitalize nine low-income neighborhoods; to require new city employees to reside in the city; and a change in the city charter to allow council members to be elected by districts.