Demonstrators to tell Chicago Auto Show: 100 Years is Enough!
Chicago Auto Show SHUTDOWN
Saturday, February 9th, 2008
www.AutoShowShutdown.org
Contact: Dan Korn, 312-505-9307

One hundred years. For a century, the Chicago Auto Show has promoted a vision of automobile domination and dependency. In that time, over three million Americans have been killed in automobile crashes, millions more have been injured, our air and water have been polluted, and the automobile and oil industries have made billions of dollars in profits. The time has come to put an end to this deadly obsession, to shut down this annual orgy of automobile glorification. One hundred years is enough!

The Ninth Annual Chicago Auto Show SHUTDOWN Festival will take place on Saturday, February 9th, 2008. A diverse coalition of cyclists, pedestrians, transit activists, and other citizens advocating for responsible transportation will assemble at 1:00 pm, at the main entrance of McCormick Place South on King Drive, just south of Cermak Road, for a peaceful demonstration and celebration of car culture alternatives. Cyclists will meet at Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago at 12 noon for a bike parade to the SHUTDOWN Festival site.

Auto Show SHUTDOWN festivities will include:
* Bicycle parade and stunt riding demonstration
* Live performance by the Chicago Car Alarm Symphony
* Unveiling and free test-rides of the Vehicles of Tomorrow
* Free workshop on overcoming automobile dependency
* Free gifts, including hand-warmers, toys, and comics
* Exxon-orcism of the Auto Show by the Rev. Antiford
* Other special guest appearances!

All Auto Show SHUTDOWN activities are free of charge and open to all ages. However, donations to any organization promoting automobile alternatives are encouraged in lieu of Auto Show tickets.

In conjunction with the Auto Show SHUTDOWN, the 11th Annual Critical Mass Art Show continues through February 1st at Mercury Cafe, 1505 West Chicago Avenue.

In addition, Break the Gridlock will host a Show And Tell night and seminar for alternative transportation activists and advocacy groups to share knowledge and network, on Friday, February 8th, at 6:00 pm, at the Bloom Inn, 2418 West Bloomingdale Avenue.

Break the Gridlock is a vibrant network of grassroots activists and advocates working to reduce automobile dependence by encouraging sustainable development and transportation options.

For more information about the Auto Show SHUTDOWN Festival, visit www.AutoShowShutdown.org
or call Dan Korn at 312-505-9307.

For more information about the Critical Mass Art Show or the Break the Gridlock seminar , visit www.chicagocriticalmass.org/artshow2008 or contact Steven Lane at steven@AutoShowShutdown.org.