The Longest Walk 2’ News Conference and Events Planned

WHAT: NEWS CONFERENCE to announce plans and logistics for the arrival of The Longest Walk 2 in DC. The Longest Walk 2 is a 5-month walk for environmental and sacred sites protection, a walk for cultural survival, youth empowerment and Native American rights. On February 11, 2008 hundreds began The Longest Walk 2 from Alcatraz Island in San Francisco, CA. On July 11th, 2008 they will reach their destination. Scheduled events include a meeting with representatives of Congress to deliver a 'Manifesto for Change' prepared en route that documents human rights abuses and environmental injustice.



WHO: Elder and youth representatives of thousands of participants of the Longest Walk 2 including Dennis Banks, cofounder of AIM (American Indian Movement), Chief Billy Tayac of the Piscataway Indian Nation, Jimbo Simmons, a coordinator for the Longest Walk 2 who is a 1978 Longest Walk veteran and representative of the International Indian Treaty Council, Yaynicut Franco a representative of the Wukchumni Nation Youth Council who walked from San Francisco, Adriano Buckskin a Ute youth representative who has been on the walk and others.



WHEN: Thursday, July 10th at 10:00 a.m.



WHERE: Washington Mall at 15th St. and Constitution Ave. In front of the Tee pees.



WHY: To issue a direct call for action for environmental protection and to stop global warming, for cultural survival, sacred sites protection and to stop the desecration of sacred burial sites. The Longest Walk 2 also commemorates the 30th anniversary of the original Longest Walk in 1978, which resulted in historic legislative changes for Native Americans including the passage of the America Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978.



"We come from all corners of America and some from around the world," states Dennis Banks, cofounder of AIM and a Walk leader. "We are converging on Washington, DC starting on July 11th to deliver a message to the US Congress and the world about the fate of the United States, all our relations and Mother Earth."



For a complete itinerary and additional information, please visit: http://www.longestwalk.org.





Schedule of Events



Tuesday-Thursday July 8, 9, 10

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM - Cultural Survival Summit in Greenbelt Park (6565 Greenbelt Road, Greenbelt, MD 20770)



Friday July 11

7:00 AM - Converge at Malcolm X Park (aka Meridian Hill Park bordered by 16th/Euclid/15th/W St. NW DC)

7:30 AM - Walk to the White House

8:30 AM - Prayer Ceremony at the White House by Lafayette Park (1608 H Street NW)

1:30 PM - Walk to The Capitol Steps (between Const. Ave. NE, Independence Ave. SW, 1st St. NE, 3rd St. SW)

2:30 PM - Prayer Ceremony at Capitol Steps with Harry Belafonte & Dennis Banks

3:00 PM - Present Manifesto to Congress

4:10 PM - Walk to Vietnam Memorial (Constitution Ave. between 21st and 23rd Street)

5:00 PM – Prayer Ceremony at the Vietnam War Memorial, Joe Spado and other veterans to speak

6:30 PM - Walk to Sylvan Theater (by the Wash. Monument, 15th St. and Independence Ave. SW)

7:30 PM – Event honoring Longest Walk 2 Walkers and Runners; presentation of feathers, staffs and flags; screening of Longest Walk video; tribute to Floyd Red Crow Westerman & Vernon Bellecourt



Saturday July 12

9:30 AM - Water Ceremony by Reflecting Pool at the Lincoln Memorial

10:30 AM - Walk to the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) (3rd-4th Street on the DC Mall)

12 noon - POW WOW by the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI)

3:00 PM - Southern Route Walker's Performance

4:00 PM - Concert @ same location at 3rd and 4th Street on the D.C. Mall



Sunday July 13

10:00 AM - POW WOW by National Museum of the American Indian (3rd-4th St. on the DC Mall)

1:00 PM - Northern Route Walker's Performance

2:00 PM - Concert @ same location at 3rd and 4th Street on the Mall





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Note to editors:

* Excellent visuals and audio with Native American Tribal leaders, traditionally dressed singers and drumming, colorful banners with Tee pees set in front of the Washington Monument.



*Media: High Resolution Photos of all events available upon request.



*Speakers are available for interviews in advance.




--
The Longest Walk did not end
The Longest Walk2 does not end
The Direct Call for Action and the Responsibility for the Future Generations Still Remains

ALL LIFE IS SACRED!!
EVERY STEP WE TAKE IS A PRAYER!!
THESE ARE BUT THE FIRST STEPS!!
http://www.longestwalk.org

Longest Walk 2 DC Media Team
lw2dcMedia [at] gmail.com

c/o Peoples MEDIA Center-202-722-0150
4132 Georgia Avenue NW-Wash DC 20011