wfn.org | NATIONAL RALLY JUNE 15, NEW YORK, FOR BURNED CHURCHES

[CAROL_FOUKE.parti@ecunet.org]

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.
Contact: Carol J. Fouke or Don Rojas, NCC, 212-870-2252
Internet: carol_fouke.parti@ecunet.org

NCC7/11/96

NATIONAL RALLY 7 P.M. JULY 15
IN SOLIDARITY WITH BURNED CHURCHES

Where:  The Abyssinian Baptist Church, 132 W.
138th Street, New York City
When:  Monday, July 15, 1996, 7 p.m.
Purpose: Address burning of Black churches and
underlying racial intolerance

The rally is being sponsored by the National Council of
Churches and the Center for Constitutional Rights, New
York, and hosted by Rev. Calvin Butts, pastor of
Abyssinian Baptist Church.  It will feature such
prominent leaders as:

Congressman John Conyers (D-MI), senior member of the
Congressional Black Caucus, ranking member of the House
Judiciary Committee, and co-author of legislation
recently signed by President Clinton mandating stiffer
penalties for those convicted of church burnings.

Congressman Donald Payne (D-NJ),  Chairman of the
Congressional Black Caucus.

Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-Calif), an outspoken
advocate of affirmative action.

There will also be a representative from the AFL-CIO,
and a coterie of local leaders including:

The Rev. Calvin Butts; Rev. Dr. Joan Brown Campbell,
General Secretary of the National Council of Churches;
Rev. Dr. Mac Charles Jones, NCC Associate to the
General Secretary for Racial Justice and pastor of St.
Stephen’s Baptist Church in Kansas City, Mo.; Ron
Daniels, Director of the Center for Constitutional
Rights; Rev. Al Sharpton, President of the National
Action Network; nationally acclaimed syndicated
commentator Bob Law.  There will be vivid testimonies
from a number of pastors whose churches were victimized
by the recent fires.

The National Council of Churches is leading a major
national effort to investigate and stop the burnings,
bring the perpetrators to justice, rebuild burned
churches and address the underlying issues of racism.
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