PROTEST MARCH and PRESS CONFERENCE

‘Coalition 2 Build the Lucas Museum’ will Protest at Friends of the Parks’ Headquarters to Reiterate its Commitment to “Lives Over Land”

Coalition supports Lucas Museum being constructed at the McCormick Place East location

(CHICAGO) May 19, 2016 – The controversy grows over where the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art should be built, with Friends of the Park and the Coalition 2 Build the Lucas Museum holding very different views on this project.

Committed to “Lives Over Land,” the Coalition 2 Build the Lucas Museum will host a protest march and press conference outside the Friends of the Parks headquarters, located at 17 North State Street, today, Thursday, May 19^th, at 12:15 p.m.

Rev. Dr. Leon Finney, pastor of the Metropolitan Apostolic Community Church and organizer of the Coalition, is committed to ensuring the Lucas Museum is built in this particular area for a variety of reasons.

“In addition to the fact that the Lucas Museum will bring 1,500 high-paying technical and service jobs to our community, as well as 8,000 construction jobs and hundreds of business opportunities,” says Dr. Finney, “the entire community will benefit from the Museum being built at the currently proposed location, McCormick Place East.”

An area which is currently underutilized, McCormick Place East is situated at the border of the Loop and the South Side. This strategic placement helps anchor the Museum as a symbol of Chicago’s commitment to strengthening its diverse, multicultural and economic communities. In addition to being physically accessible to a larger demographic of people, using this location means the City of Chicago will gain 12 acres in lakefront property.

“The goal of this protest is to let Friends of the Parks know that we will not back down from supporting the Lucas Museum,” says Dr. Finney. “Our young professionals and people of color need viable, well-paying jobs and this project will provide that. We need the whole community to understand that we will always prioritize lives over land.”

WHO:         Coalition 2 Build the Lucas Museum

WHAT:       Protest March and Press Conference

WHERE:    Friends of the Parks Headquarters

        17 North State Street, Chicago, IL 60602

WHEN:      Thursday, May 19, 2016, at 12:15 p.m

To secure an interview with Rev. Dr. Leon Finney, or to learn more about the Coalition 2 Build the Lucas Museum, please contact Jerry Thomas atjerry@jerrythomaspr.com, or call (312) 285-5166.

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About the Coalition 2 Build the Lucas Museum: The Coalition is committed to supporting the construction of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art at McCormick Place East, an area which is currently underutilized. With a rallying cry of “Lives Over Land,” the Coalition is working to gather a strong and bold group of diverse community organizations to rally in support of the Lucas Museum. The Museum is expected to generate 8,000 construction jobs as well as 1,500 long-term employment opportunities. Of the $743 million that is expected to be spent on building the Museum, $60 million to $95 million has already been earmarked for women and minority-owned construction contracts.