wfn.org | 1000s at Interfaith Rally, Human Chain Aug. 31 on U.S. Policies

["Carol Fouke" <cfouke@ncccusa.org>]

MEDIA ALERT

Thousands of Christians, Jews, Muslims to RALLY in New York City August 31 TO
SHED NEW LIGHT on Nation's Policies

7-9 P.M. -- Massive "Mobilization 2004/Let Justice Roll: Faith and Community
Voices Against Poverty" Rally at The Riverside Church, led by the Rev. Dr.
James A. Forbes, Jr.  Non-partisan demonstration that people of faith are
deeply concerned about poverty and social justice issues -- and are holding
the presidential candidates and convention delegates accountable.

9-10 P.M. -- "Faith Lights Up Broadway."  Thousands of New Yorkers, Holding
Flashlights, to Line BROADWAY in Non-Partisan Effort to Highlight Moral and
Democratic Crises of Our Nation, Put Focus on Poverty and Social Justice
Issues.

Participants Include: Members, Leaders from New York's Prominent, Historic
Religious Institutions.

Co-Sponsors: The Riverside Church, National Council of Churches USA, Center
for Community Change, The Interfaith Alliance, Council of the Churches of the
City of New York, along with a wide range of other faith-based and
community-based bodies.

WHAT/WHY: 

On the evening of August 31, 2004, concurrent with the Republican National
Convention, more than 3,000 New Yorkers of faith are expected at The
Riverside Church to call attention to the real moral, social and economic
issues of this election and reclaim democracy for all Americans -- the poor,
the sick, the unemployed and the disenfranchised.  

Following the rally, demonstrators will line Broadway from West 72nd Street
to West 125th Street, as well as other areas in Manhattan, to form a symbolic
chain to reconnect America with its spiritual, moral, and democratic values.
In an unprecedented act of solidarity, New York's historic and most revered
religious institutions will unite in an effort to mobilize the progressive
community.

The rally and demonstration are co-sponsored by:

-- The Riverside Church's Mobilization 2004 campaign, a progressive
interfaith effort to redefine the role of faith in our country's political
agenda and to call for just and moral faith-based leadership in Washington.

-- "Let Justice Roll: Faith and Community Voices Against Poverty," a new
alliance co-sponsored by the National Council of Churches USA and the Center
for Community Change.  "Let Justice Roll" is holding events in more than 15
cities across the United States June through October to challenge voters,
public officials, delegates to the Party Conventions and this year's
candidates for public office, especially the presidential candidates, to make
ending poverty a top priority.

WHO:	

-- The Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes, Jr., voted by Newsweek as one of America's
top 10 preachers, is the Senior Minister of The Riverside Church. 

-- Thousands of New Yorkers from all five boroughs, Westchester and Long
Island.

-- The Rev. Dr. Paul Sherry, Coordinator, National Council of Churches
Poverty Mobilization, Consultant to the Center for Community Change and
Coordinator, "Let Justice Roll."

-- Welton Gaddy, President, The Interfaith Alliance.

-- Peter Yarrow, Singer.

WHEN/WHERE: TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2004

WHERE:	Rally--7:00pm-9:00 P.M., THE RIVERSIDE CHURCH, 490 Riverside Drive at
W. 120th Street (enter Claremont Avenue between 120-122nd Streets)

Faith Lights Up Broadway Demonstration -- 9:00-10:00 P.M., ON BROADWAY-from
WEST 72nd Street to WEST 125th Street (1-2-3 subway; M104 bus).

(In addition, congregants will be lining up at various other points in
Manhattan including on First Avenue from St. Marks to 40th Street and on West
Houston from West Broadway to Sixth Avenue). 

MEDIA CONTACTS:

MOBILIZATION 2004: Including ONE on ONE interviews available with Dr. Forbes.
Contact Beata Gutman at 212-593-6317; gutmanb@ruderfinn.com

LET JUSTICE ROLL: For information/interviews with Dr. Sherry or other "Let
Justice Roll" spokespersons, contact Carol Fouke at 212-870-2252;
cfouke@ncccusa.org

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