LONGEST NIGHT: A NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIED ON THE STREETS

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wayne Mellinger, Ph.D.
Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice – Santa Barbara (CLUE-SB)

Longest Night: A National Memorial Day for those Who Have Died on Our Streets

Santa Barbara, CA: On Saturday, December 21, 2013, from 6:00 – 6:45 p.m., Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE) and the Interfaith Initiative of Santa Barbara will co-host Longest Night: A National Memorial Day for those Who Have Died on Our Streets at the Santa Barbara Courthouse Sunken Gardens.

The central purpose of this interfaith candlelight prayer vigil is to commemorate the dozens of our friends, family members and neighbors who passed away while homeless this year and to recommit to the task of ending homelessness. Wayne Mellinger, a key organizer of this event, says: "This past year I have personally known many people who have died while experiencing homelessness.  It feels empowering to transform our profound sadness into an opportunity to educate our community about the challenges faced by the poorest segment of our society, and to recommit to the goal of ending homelessness."

The event is co-sponsored by Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE) and the Interfaith Initiative of Santa Barbara, and will include a reading of the names of those who have died while experiencing homelessness. Santa Barbara joins over 150 communities in the United States in commemorating this event.

Mayor Helene Schneider has issued a Proclamation on behalf of the City of Santa Barbara for Longest Night: A National Memorial Day for Those Who Have Died on the Streets, and will present a reading of the Proclamation as part of the program.

Please join us for this memorial event.
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