NEWS from the National Council of Churches, USA
Contact NCC News Service: 212-870-2252  |  E-mail news@ncccusa.org   |  Most Recent Stories   |  NCC Home

Aug. 31, 2004, New York City --
  Thousands of Christians, Jews, Muslims to Rally
  to SHED NEW LIGHT on Nation's Policies

AT A GLANCE:

7-9 P.M. AUGUST 31 -- 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. AUGUST 31 -- "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.

MORE ON 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.

MORE ON 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.

IMPORTANT LOGISTICS:

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).

PUBLIC INFORMATION: 212-870-2298 or letjusticeroll@ncccusa.org

MEDIA CONTACTS (Media Only, Please!)

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

-end-


Return to NCC Home Page