Amistad Send-Off Revises Schedule

NEW HAVEN (05/24/2007) -- Ceremonies to bless and honor the Freedom Schooner Amistad as she begins her 2007 Atlantic Freedom Tour will be held at various sites in downtown New Haven on June 21st. The schedule has been recently revised, most notably changing the time of the Farewell Ceremony at the vessel's Long Wharf berth to 1:00 pm.

United Church of Christ General Minister and President the Rev. John Thomas will be among the dignitaries participating in the day's events, which include youth programs, speakers, worship, and the farewell ceremony. The current schedule is:

9:00 am: Youth Program, New Haven Green
9:30 am: Interdenominational Service, United Church on the Green
10:30 am: Ceremony at Sengbe Pieh Statue, City Hall, Church Street
12:00 noon: US Coast Guard Band Concert, New Haven Green
12:45 pm: March to the Amistad, starting at the Sports Haven parking lot.
1:00 pm: Farewell Ceremony, Long Wharf Pier
5:30 pm: Public Lecture by Dr. Clifton Johnson, New Haven Museum

The modern schooner honors the memory of the 53 Africans who seized the Cuban coasting vessel Amistad, which was transporting them along the Caribbean island's coast. The freed captives attempted to sail the vessel across the Atlantic to their homes, but they lacked the navigation skills for the journey and were taken into custody by US officials when they made landfall off Long Island. In a series of trials that reached the US Supreme Court, where former President John Quincy Adams argued their case, the Amistad captives were acquited of mutiny charges and the government was ordered to return them to their homes.

The Amistad Committee, formed by New England Congregationalists to defend the Africans, became the ancestor of the American Missionary Association and was the first religious anti-slavery organization in America. Today's replica, built

The Amistad's 2007/2008 Atlantic Freedom Tour will visit England to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the end of the slave trade in the United Kingdom, and continue its voyage to Sierra Leone, the home of the original captives. The vessel is expected home in the spring of 2008.

Churches can be part of this historic event by sponsoring a day of the voyage. The cost to sponsor a day is $2,500; multiple congregations can join together in sponsoring a day to participate in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Sponsoring pastors will write a message reflecting on the Amistad's commitments which will be posted on the Amistad America web site that day, along with acknowledgement of that church's support.

For more information, call the Connecticut Conference at 860.233.5564 or toll free at 866.367.2822.

No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here.