CONCERT BENEFITS PLINTON LEGAL EFFORTS

Family of UA Student Who Killed Self Expected to Sue

Just outside the doors of Mount Olive Baptist Church in Akron -- where
the music from a rousing revival filtered into the warm Sunday night
air -- volunteers tried to collect 1,000 signatures in the name of
Charles Plinton.

A private investigator is expected to fly the petition to Washington,
D.C., Wednesday to make it part of a civil-rights complaint to the
U.S. Department of Justice on behalf of a group of 30 African-American
pastors and community leaders.

The coalition spokesman, the Rev. William V. Green of Galilee
Missionary Baptist Church in Barberton, said that's not the only legal
action expected this week. On Friday, the Plinton family plans to sue
the University of Akron, Green said.

Plinton, 25, a University of Akron graduate student, was suspended in
2004 on allegations that he had sold drugs to a confidential informant
installed in his dorm.

The suspension occurred after he was acquitted by a jury.

Plinton killed himself in December.

Outrage over his story led to policy reviews at the Summit County
Sheriff's Office and at UA.

An hourlong concert at Mount Olive on Sunday raised money for legal
efforts by the family and the Concerned Clergy, Community Leaders and
Citizens for a Safe Community coalition.

Green asked the capacity crowd of about 550 people to pull out their
checkbooks.

"We need $12,000 tonight," he said. "The tragedy of Mr. Plinton was
only the launching pad to bring Summit County together."

In response, City Council President Marco Sommerville rose from his
seat among front-row dignitaries to donate $100.

Sommerville's daughter attended college with Plinton, and the
councilman involved his personal attorney in Plinton's case.

"This kid was not guilty at all," Sommerville told the crowd, which
included council members Renee L. Greene and Jim Shealey. "The young
man won (in a court of law). End of story, we thought.

"That happened not in Alabama; that happened not in Mississippi; that
didn't happen in Kansas City. That happened here. That happened in
Ohio. And there's a lot more stories like that."

After the 65-member United Neighbors Choir of Akron completed a
musical set under the direction of the Rev. Damien Searcy, Green read
aloud new letters from Plinton's father and brother, thanking the
community for its support.

"We live in a country that is multicultural, multi-ethnic and
multiracial, and yet there is not democracy for all people all over
the land," Green said. "But I believe that if we united and mobilize
ourselves, we can do great work in Summit County."

The public is invited to coalition meetings from noon to 1:30 p.m.
Tuesdays at East Akron Community House, 550 S. Arlington St. in Akron.