Members of Congress to Help Tear Down Berlin Wall Replica at U.S. Capitol
To: Assignment Desk, Daybook Editor, Feature Reporter
Contact: Adam Eidinger, 202-547-3577 or 202-744-2671 (mobile)

News Advisory:

Capping off a week-long vigil for nuclear disarmament to raise
public awareness about ongoing threats posed by thousands of cold war
nuclear weapons, members of congress and Project Abolition will tear
down a 200-foot replica of the Berlin Wall on Tuesday, Nov. 9, at
11 a.m. on the National Mall near 3rd Street on the West of the U.S.
Capitol. Today (Nov. 8), at the "Wall of Denial" a candlelight vigil
sponsored by local religious leaders will be held at 6 p.m., followed
by an all night dance party expected to attract a very large crowd.

--
WHO:
-- Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH)
-- Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA)
-- Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA)
-- Rep Cynthia McKinney (D-GA) (not confirmed)
-- Vice-President Albert Gore, Jr. (not confirmed)
-- Kai Bird, biographer and editor of "Hiroshima's Shadow:
Writings in the Denial of History and the Smithsonian
Controversy"
-- Gordon Clark, executive director of Peace Action
-- Local religious leaders

WHAT:
-- Candlelight vigil on eve of 10th Anniversary of fall of Berlin
Wall
-- Anti-Nuke Dance Party
-- Tear-down ceremony

WHEN:
- Today (Nov. 8) at 6 p.m., Candlelight vigil followed by all
night dance party
- Tuesday, Nov. 9 at 11:30 a.m., Tear-down ceremony

WHERE:
National Capitol Mall on 3rd St. between Constitution Ave. and
Independence Ave., Washington, D.C.

(Note: Using ropes and drills, organizers plan to tear down the
"Wall of Denial," in a dramatic visual display. CAMERA CREWS AND
PHOTOGRAPHERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ARRIVE EARLY!)

DETAILS:
The "Wall of Denial," built last week has attracted thousands of
visitors who have spray-painted it with personal expressions for
nuclear disarmament and support for the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
(CTBT).

"The enthusiasm of children and teenagers, many of whom were born
after the fall of the Berlin Wall fell ten years ago, has been
eye-opening," said Alistair Millar, a spokesman for Project
Abolition. "We see the mainstream public learning for the first time
about squandered opportunities for nuclear arms reductions. With TV
advertisements, toll free numbers and the Internet, we're taking
names, e-mail addresses and phone numbers to rebuild the anti-nuclear
movement."

On Tuesday, Nov. 2, Project Abolition began airing a 60-second TV
commercial featuring actor Martin Sheen in Washington, D.C., Iowa,
and New Hampshire. "Politicians are in denial about nuclear
weapons," says Sheen.

"Its been ten years since the end of the Cold War yet thousands of
American nuclear bombs are on hair trigger alert, poised to launch at
a moments notice. It's insane and it's immoral," invokes the
59-year-old actor. FOR A COPY OF THE COMMERCIAL CONTACT Adam Eidinger
at 202-547-3577.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) will speak in front of the "Wall of
Denial" on Nov. 9 about a new Rapid Risk Reduction Resolution aimed
at encouraging the United States and Russian legislatures to work
together, outside the formal treaty process, to set the stage for
dramatic reciprocal reductions in nuclear weapons. Kucinich joined
other members of congress in a delegation to meet with the Russian
Duma during the Kosovo war and intends to employ a similar process to
build confidence between the two nations that possess more nuclear
weapons than the rest of the world combined.

Throughout the week there has been educational programming by
organizations such as the Hiroshima Nagasaki Peace Association, who
showed videos and graphically detailed the human cost nuclear weapons
have imposed on thousands of Japanese. Local activists working on a
variety of issues ranging from East Timor and Colombian human rights
to fair trade and environmental issues have met at the "Wall of
Denial" to discuss strategies for building an invigorated youth
movement centered on "moral principles rather than partisan
politics," said Martin Thomas of D.C. Statehood Green Party.

Last week, construction of the "Wall of Denial" was hampered by
high winds and rain that blew down the nearly completed structure. We
lost a whole day's work," said James McGuinness, an anti-nuclear
activist since 1986 working for Proposition 1. "We were devastated,
but after reevaluating our design we reinforced the wall with
additional supports and more ropes."

Since the Park Police does not permit camping on the national
mall, scores of young people from local universities have manned the
vigil night and day since last Tuesday. "Playing hip-hop and
techno-music into the early the morning has been really a blast,"
said one student from the American University Movement. "We are
exercising our rights and it feels great!"

Organizations working with Project Abolition on the "Wall of
Denial" include: Physicians for Social Responsibility, Peace Action
Education Fund, 20/20 Vision, The Disarmament Clearinghouse, the
Fourth Freedom Forum, The Washington Action Group, War Resisters
League, Peace Links, the Catholic University College Democrats,
Women's Action for New Directions, NETWORK: National Catholic Social
Justice Lobby, The D.C. Statehood Green Party, Friends Committee on
National Legislation, Hiroshima Nagasaki Peace Association, The
American University Movement, Proposition One, Veterans for Peace,
and others.

Television reporters and print journalists are encouraged to visit
the "Wall of Denial" in advance of the tear-down ceremony.
Accommodations for live broadcast are available. Contact Adam
Eidinger or Adina Schyman at 202-547-3577 for questions.

-0-
/U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770/
11/08 11:33
 

Copyright 1999, U.S. Newswire