| NEWS ADVISORY
September 8, 2004
CONTACT: Zoe Mitchell 202-253-2990, zoe@zoemitchell.com
David Potorti 919-608-7322 (Peaceful Tomorrows)
Three Years Later: 9/11 Families Call For
"Peace Connection" Beyond U.S.
Boston-to-New York "Stonewalk" Concludes
With Vigils and Ceremonies, Sept. 10-12
NEW YORK CITY—Three years after the deaths of their loved
ones in the September 11th attacks, a group of family members of
those lost on 9/11 are making a a dramatic statement of solidarity
with victims of terrorism, violence and war from around the world.
After pulling a 1400-pound memorial stone honoring "the unknown
civilians killed in war" from Boston to New York, they are
inviting others to "make a peace connection" with those
who have chosen to break the cycle the violence and work for peace,
from Israel and Palestine to Japan, South Africa, Northern Ireland,
and beyond.
WHO: September Eleventh Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, The Peace
Boat (from Japan) and Representatives from the Library of Congress
WHAT: New Yorkers "Make A Peace Connection" by writing
messages and creating art in solidarity with those affected by terrorism,
violence and war around the globe. Also, a candlelight vigil around
the "Stonewalk" memorial and audio recordings of impressions.
WHERE: South plaza of Union Square Park, Manhattan
WHEN: September 10, 2004 from 7-10pm
WHO: September Eleventh Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, The Peace
Boat
WHAT: "Stonewalk" memorial pulled through Manhattan, to
Buddhist Center for blessing ceremony, and teach-in at Riverside
Church
WHERE: AFSC offices (15 Rutherford Place) to Buddhist Center (332
Riverside Drive at 115th St.) and Riverside Church (Riverside Drive
and West 122nd St.)
WHEN: September 11, 2004 (Depart AFSC 7:30am, cross 14th Street
and go up Tenth Avenue, go north on Riverside Drive starting at
72nd Street. Arrive Buddhist Center at 10:30am and Riverside Church
approximately noon.)
WHO: September Eleventh Families for Peaceful Tomorrows
WHAT: "Stonewalk" memorial pulled from Riverside Church
to Cathedral of St. John the Divine.
WHERE: Riverside Church (Riverside Drive and West 122nd St.) to
Cathedral of St. John the Divine (112th St. and Amsterdam Avenue,
one block east of Broadway)
WHEN: September 12, 2004, depart from Riverside Church at 8:30am.
Memorial stone will play a part in service at Cathedral of St. John
the Divine beginning at 11am.
Events are sponsored by September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows,
a group of more than 130 family members of 9/11 victims, in conjunction
with The Peace Abbey, a multi-faith retreat center. They bear witness
to the tragic reality that civilian casualties constituted 80% of
the deaths in war in the 20th century, and ask that this human toll
be a prime consideration in future policymaking decisions.
Peaceful Tomorrows is also calling for support of HR 1673, legislation
establishing a Cabinet-level Department of Peace.
In keeping with its nonpartisan mission, the group will ask all
who participate to leave partisan political signs and slogans at
home, keeping their focus on the human costs of war, which transcend
politics, nationality or religious affiliation.
For more Information, please see http://www.peacefultomorrows.org/
September Eleventh Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, P.O. Box 1818,
Peter Stuyvesant Station, New York, NY 10009
Poet Tony Brown creates an original poem for Stonewalk
Tony Brown, long-time Worcester, MA poet and slammer,
joined Peaceful Tomorrows in Uxbridge on August 3 to read an original
poem he created for "Stonewalk." Brown knew seven people
who were killed on Flight 11 on September 11, 2001.
GIFT: for the Stonewalkers, 8/3/04 By Tony
Brown
We have always
wanted our gifts to come to us
tied off neatly
with tidy bows.
This isn't one of those. Unraveled
ends trail off this one like ripcords,
just waiting for one strong tug
to open up and set it free.
It may wait for years, and
even when pulled long and hard,
it may never unwrap completely
in one lifetime. Still every gift needs
to be opened. Everyone
needs to see what it may be inside -
despite the fear that it may
rise, or burst, or be so
unlike what was expected that
everything around it will have to change.
This is the hope contained in anything before it
is
unwrapped:
that everything will change
once someone reaches out, takes hope in hand,
and pulls.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRESS
RELEASE
August
2, 2004
ATTN: FUTURE ASSIGNMENTS
NEWS ADVISORY CONTACT:Zoe
Mitchell 202-253-2990, zoe@mintwood.com, Dan Jones 646-408-5676,
David Potorti, 919-608-7322 (Peaceful Tomorrows)
Boston-to-New York "Stonewalk"
Visits Rhode Island Towns August 4-6
RHODE ISLAND - Family members of
9/11 victims are making a dramatic statement of solidarity with
victims of terrorism, violence and war from around the world by
walking from Boston to New York in time for the Republican National
Convention. Beginning Wednesday, August 4 they will walk across
the state of Rhode Island, pulling a 1400-pound granite memorial
honoring the "Unknown Civilians Killed in War." The memorial
will be on display at the Slatersville Congregational Church located
on the Common in Slatersville on August 4 at 6 PM. On Friday, August
6 the Stonewalk will arrive at the Beneficent Church in Providence
for a special community event marking the anniversary of the bombing
of Hiroshima featuring speakers who lost loved ones on September
11th. The Stonewalk will also visit Burrillville, Chepachet, and
Foster, RI.
WHO: September 11th Families for
Peaceful Tomorrows and Supporters
WHAT: Rhode Island Portion of "Stonewalk" from Boston
to New York City
WHEN: Wednesday, August 4 at 6:00PM and Friday August 6, 6:00PM
WHERE: (Wed) Slatersville Congregational Church on the Common in
Slatersville and
(Fri) Beneficent Church 300 Weybosset Street, Providence, RI
The walk is sponsored by September
11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, a group of more than 130 family
members of 9/11 victims, in conjunction with The Peace Abbey, a
multi-faith retreat center. Through this walk, and through speaking
events in thirty-three communities along the way, they will bear
witness to the tragic reality that civilian casualties constituted
80% of the deaths in war in the 20th century, and ask that this
human toll be a prime consideration in future policymaking decisions.
The Boston-to-New York walk also will acknowledge the tragedy that
linked those two cities on September 11th, 2001, symbolically remaking
that connection with a message of peace and a memorial to all of
those who died that day. The memorial’s journey will be made
solely by human effort, using no animals or machinery, demonstrating
the power of individuals to "move mountains" for the cause
of peace.
In keeping with its nonpartisan mission, the group will ask all
who participate to leave partisan political signs and slogans at
home, keeping their focus on the human costs of war, which transcend
politics, nationality or religious affiliation.
For more Information and a complete
list of towns the Stonewalk will visit, please see http://www.peacefultomorrows.org
September Eleventh Families for
Peaceful Tomorrows, P.O. Box 1818, Peter Stuyvesant Station, New
York, NY 10009, 212-598-0970
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September
Eleventh Families For Peaceful Tomorrows
