The Boycott and Billy Graham

by Bob Hostetler

A year ago, rioting broke out in parts of Cincinnati after a white police officer shot and killed a young unarmed black man, the latest in a disturbing string of tragic incidents. The problem with riots, however, is that they tend to hurt many of the people-merchants, homeowners, wage-earners, law-abiding citizens-on whose behalf the action is supposedly taken. Unfortunately, the same is sometimes true of boycotts.

Among the demands made by the Coalition for a Just Cincinnati-the organization which proposed and promotes a boycott of the Cincinnati metropolitan area (see www.cincyboycott.org)-are some worthy objectives, such as greater follow-through and accountability among citizens, police, and government. Other demands, however, call for action from entities local authorities can't control: the U.S. Justice Department, for example, and the voters of Cincinnati. Also, a great many of the coalition's demands carry a price tag; they would require considerable new funds (for studies, new staff and offices, etc.). Nonetheless, until their demands are met, the coalition insists, they will continue and, if possible, intensify the boycott.

The boycott organizers have succeeded in persuading entertainers-among them Bill Cosby, Wynton Marsalis, and Smokey Robinson-to cancel long-planned and promoted visits to the city. In March, they appealed to evangelist Billy Graham to cancel his June mission, a free event that is expected to draw 200,000 people over four nights, June 27-30.

Graham-and the event's organizers-have already said that the mission to Cincinnati will be held, despite calls for its cancellation. Indeed, if the coalition's goal is to bring about justice, why urge the cancellation of an event that is designed-with time-proven effectiveness-to break down barriers, unite people of all colors and economic levels, and change people's hearts and lives . . . from the inside out? If the coalition's objective is true, lasting justice and equality, why turn away something that has the potential to turn hatred into love, division into unity, individual racists into instant brothers and sisters?

In fact, it's already happening all over the Tri-State. The Rev. Damon Lynch, Jr., father of one of the boycott's organizers, is a co-chair of the Billy Graham mission (www.cincymission.org), along with former Bengals star Anthony Munoz. More than 15,000 volunteers of every color will serve the event as organizers, ushers, choir members, and prayer counselors. Outreaches will be held in area prisons, jails, and juvenile facilities. Prayer meetings and preparatory events have already united men, women, and youth at churches and arenas throughout Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky.

After all, whatever Bible texts Graham may use when he preaches here in June, he preaches from the book that says:

But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace (Colossians 3:8-15, NIV).

That's what a Billy Graham mission can do for people who come with open minds and hearts. June 27-30 will be a mammoth opportunity to "let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!" (Amos 5:24, NIV). I wouldn't want to do anything to derail an event that is so ripe with life-changing possibilities. That's what Cincinnati needs. It's what Butler County needs. It's what we all need.

This article appeared in the Hamilton Journal-News on April 5, 2002.

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