A War Casualties Exhibit Comes to New York City: Press Conference Details

News Advisory:

A War Casualties Exhibit Comes to New York City: Press Conference Details

Military Veterans and Families Who Lost Loved Ones Speak at Memorial Display of Nearly 2000 Pairs of Combat Boots Recognizing US. Soldiers Who Died in Iraq

Powerful Visuals for Photographs: Spokespeople Available for On-Site Interviews

DETAILS:

Military families join Iraq War veterans for a press conference opening the memorial exhibition Eyes Wide Open: The Human Cost of War, which recognizes nearly 2000 U.S. soldiers and 10,000 Iraqi civilians who have died in the Iraq war. The opening event will be held Tuesday, October 11, at Noon, in Foley Square in Manhattan. Organizers will challenge the billions spent on the Iraq war effort to date.

As the U.S. nears the 2000th military casualty, organizers say "Not One More Death, Not One More Dollar" condemning the 17.2 billion dollars New York alone has spent on the Iraq War. New York City has forked over around 6.4 billion, according to the National Priorities Project. State-level costs are computed based on how much each state contributes in tax revenues, according to IRS data, updated for the latest IRS data in May, 2005.

"The dollar amounts are mind-boggling" observes Marq Anderson, Eyes Wide Open national tour manager. "We’ve earmarked 204.6 billion for the Iraq war. It’s astronomical. Just putting that into perspective, a little more than 6.8 billion seconds ago, George Washington became our first President"

Eyes Wide Open, which opened with 504 pairs of boots in January 2004 at Chicago’s Federal Plaza, will continue growing as the death toll continues to rise.

The traveling exhibit is sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), an international social justice organization. The exhibition has toured approximately 60 cities across the country, including Philadelphia, New York City, Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles, California.

WHAT:

Eyes Wide Open: the Human Cost of War -- PRESS CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION OPENING -- Featuring military families, and veterans of the Iraq War. Ninety-four pairs of combat boots representing all New York Casualties will be on display at the press conference.

WHERE: Foley Square, Manhattan

Foley Square is easily accessible from the Manhattan, Brooklyn and Williamsburg Bridges and from the FDR and West Side Highway.

WHEN: Tuesday, October 11 at Noon

NOTE:

In case of inclement weather, the press conference will be held at the Cathedral Church of St. John, Amsterdam Avenue at West 112th Street in Manhattan.

Contact Information

Janis D. Shields

director of Public and Media Relations

American Friends Service Committee

Contact via E-mail