Black Ministers Sponsor National Katrina Anniversary Commemorative Worship Services in NYC and DC

Thursday, August 17, 2006

WHAT: A National Commemorative Day of Worship in memoriam of the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina will take place on Sunday, August 27. Worship services will be held in New York City, Washington, DC and churches throughout the country to remember those who lost their lives during the storms; to honor survivors who remain unaided, marginalized and displaced; to celebrate those who risked theirs to save others; to remind the nation that suffering throughout the Gulf Coast states continues; and to hold public officials accountable for promises and commitments made to restore and rebuild the region.

The Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference is the sponsor of the National Commemorative Day of Worship and the Katrina National Justice Commission, which convened hearings this summer to document successes and failures in local, state, and federal responses to Hurricane Katrina. The Commission is the first national independent body of faith leaders from African-American churches and community activists to investigate the events surrounding Katrina. The Commission heard testimony from first responders, political officials, community activists and evacuees in an effort to identify next steps for long-term reconstruction and restoration and to help shape new public policies that will alleviate economic disparities made evident by the disaster. Those testimonies will be part of the Commission’s final report entitled “The Breach,� to be released in early September.

WHEN: August 27th, 2006 at 11:00 a.m.

WHERE: The Riverside Church
490 Riverside Drive
New York, New York 10027
212-870-6700
The Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes, Jr.

Shiloh Baptist Church
Corner of 9th and P Streets
Washington, DC
202-232-4200
The Rev. Dr. Wallace Charles Smith

CONTACT: Press Contact: Rhoda McKinney Jones at rmjwriter@comcast.net (267) 218-4023 or Jessica Watson at press@faithinpubliclife.org, (202) 544-7921