wfn.org | August 22 Prayer Vigil to Kick Off Weekend's March on

["Nat'l Council of Churches" <nccc_usa@ncccusa.org>]

1963-2003
40th Year March on Washington

August 20, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AND NEWS PLANNING

EXCELLENT VISUALS AND INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES

BERNICE KING TO PARTICIPATE IN PRAYER VIGIL FOR 40TH ANNIVERSARY MARCH ON
WASHINGTON KICK-OFF
Religious Leaders from Across the Country to Gather for Prayer and Pass the
Torch to the Next Generation of Leaders

August 20, 2003, Washington, D.C.-Civil rights and religious leaders will
kick-off the 40th Anniversary of the March on Washington with an Interfaith
Prayer Vigil and symbolically pass the torch to the next generation of
leaders on Friday, August 22 at 7 p.m. on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.
Rev. Dr. Bernice King, daughter of the slain civil rights leader Rev. Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr., and Rev. Dr. Walter Fauntroy, former Congressman
and civil rights champion, are among the religious leaders who will
participate.

WHAT:	An Interfaith Prayer Vigil. Religious leaders representing a cross
section
of faiths including Protestant, Jewish, Catholic, Muslim, Buddhist and
Hindu denominations have been invited to participate. Prayers will be
focused on jobs, peace and freedom. In addition, those gathered for the
prayer vigil will hold candles and wear armbands symbolizing peace.

WHO:		Rev. Dr. Bernice King, ordained minister, motivational
speaker and
daughter of Coretta Scott King and slain civil rights leader the late Rev.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.;

Rev. Walter Fauntroy, former Congressman, D.C. Coordinator for the 63
March and director of the 83 and 93 Commemorative Marches; and,
numerous other religious leaders from across the country.

WHEN:	Friday, August 22
		7 p.m.

WHERE:	The Steps of the Lincoln Memorial
		Washington, D.C.

WHY:		Those in the faith community believe that prayer changes
things. With
the
direction of our nation and the lives of so many people hanging in the
balance, the organizers of the March on Washington agreed that a prayer
vigil would help set the tone for the commemorative events that will take
place on Saturday, August 23rd for the 40th Anniversary of the March on
Washington.

Media Contact: Rev. Leslie Tune, National Council of Churches, (202)
544-2350 or (202) 297-2191 (cell); or, Rev. Lennox Yearwood, March on
Washington Committee, (301) 853-6990.

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