Leaders to Issue Call for Public Dialogue to Protect Civil Liberties

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Unprecedented Coalition of Elected Officials, Immigrant Advocates, Civil Rights Leaders, and Religious Leaders Plan Rally and Town Hall to Celebrate Dr. King’s Legacy

Martin Luther King III, Congressman John Conyers, Anthony Romero, Jim Zogby, Karen Narasaki, and Rev. Al Sharpton Among Speakers

WHAT: In the aftermath of September 11, a diverse coalition of civil rights leaders, elected officials, immigrant advocates and religious groups will hold a rally and town hall discussion to explore how Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. would face today’s challenges to civil liberties.

WHEN: Noon until 2:30 PM on Saturday, January 19th

WHERE: The Washington DC Convention Center
900 9th Street, NW – Metro Center / Gallery Place Chinatown

WHO: Speakers Include:
Martin Luther King, III, Pres. Southern Christian Leadership Conference
Mahdi Bray, Muslim Public Affairs Council
Cecilia Munoz, National Council of La Raza
Karen K. Narasaki, National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium
Anthony Romero, Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union
Rev. Al Sharpton, Pres. of the National Action Network
Damu Smith, Civil Rights and Peace Activist
Jim Zogby, Pres. of the Arab American Institute
**Others To Be Announced **

Supporters (still in formation):
American Civil Liberties Union, American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, American Muslim Council, Americans for Democratic Action, Arab-American Institute, Armenian National Committee of America, Black Leadership Forum, Black Voices for Peace, Blacks in Government, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Council on American-Islamic Relations, Disciples Advocacy Washington Network, Equal Justice Program, Howard University, Equal Partners in Faith, First Amendment Foundation, Friends Committee on National Legislation (Quakers), Indian American Center for Political Awareness, International Human Rights Law Group, Japanese Americans Citizens League, Justice Policy Institute, Korean American Council, Muslim Public Affairs Council, Muslim Students Association, National Action Network, National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium, National Black Caucus of Legislators, National Coalition for Asian-Pacific American Community Development, National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America (N’COBRA), National Coalition to Protect Political Freedom, National Council of La Raza, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, National Latina/o Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Org., National Lawyers Guild, Pride at Work – AFL-CIO, Service Employee International Union, Solidarity USA, South Asian American Leaders of Tomorrow, Southern Christian Leadership Conference, The College Democrats of America, The Interfaith Alliance, Tikkun Community, Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations, United Church of Christ – Justice and Witness Ministries