By Kevin Aldridge
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The three main groups behind the economic boycott of Cincinnati plan to unveil a list of demands Monday during a special community meeting at New Prospect Baptist Church in Over-the-Rhine.

"Cincinnati Sanctions Summit II" is one of two events organized by the Cincinnati Black United Front, Concerned Citizens for Justice and the First Coalition for a Just Cincinnati Inc. to coincide with the fatal shooting of Timothy Thomas and the two-year anniversary of the April 2001 riots.

The other event is an interfaith church service at 6 p.m. Sunday at Metropolitan CME Church in Walnut Hills. The purpose of that gathering is to mobilize Greater Cincinnati clergy who wish to support the boycott movement. Organizers also will register residents to vote after the service.

The Sanctions Summit II is from 6-9 p.m. at New Prospect.

Boycott leaders said they would present a list of demands at the session and discuss plans to expand the call for economic sanctions beyond Cincinnati.

The event will conclude with a candlelight vigil in remembrance of Timothy Thomas in the Over-the-Rhine alley where he was shot and killed while fleeing from a Cincinnati police officer. The 19-year-old African-American's death sparked three days of rioting.

A similar "Sanctions Summit" in February drew about 500 supporters.

"We want to reenergize and mobilize the community and get people to recommit themselves to the struggle," said Victoria Straughn, chairwoman of Concerned Citizens for Justice. "Above all we want to educate people so they understand exactly what it is we are asking for."

Straughn said , the groups decided on a slate of demands that cover areas of health, education, economics and government reform.

"Something has to change in this city," she said. "We can't go back to what they call 'normal.' Being 'normal' got us where we are today."

The groups are placing high importance on Sunday's ecumenical service at Metropolitan CME Church.

"The clergy (in Cincinnati) have been too quiet for too long on this issue," said the Rev. Stephen Scott, co-chairman of the First Coalition for a Just Cincinnati. "They haven't said anything one way or another to this point. Now it's time to step up."

E-mail kaldridge@enquirer.com