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Revenge of the Crash Test Dummies
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

WHO: Dozens of cyclists, pedestrians, transit activists, and others
WHAT: Ninth Annual Chicago Auto Show SHUTDOWN
WHEN: Saturday, February 9th, 2008, 1:00 pm
WHERE: Main entrance of McCormick Place South on King Drive, just south of Cermak Road (Cyclists meet at noon at Daley Plaza)
WHY: To counter the Auto Show's destructive glorification of automobiles and car culture

Crash test dummies have gone AWOL and now tour the country on bicycles trying to get their human counterparts to finally realize that cars kill over a million people every year.
It's time to wise up: STAY ALIVE - DON'T DRIVE!

For one hundred years, 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 maimed and injured, and pollution from exhaust has compromised the quality of our air and water. Meanwhile, the automotive and oil industries are have made billions of dollars in profit. 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 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 site.

Auto Show SHUTDOWN festivities will include:
* Bicycle parade with the Crash Test Dummies
* Live performance by the Chicago Car Alarm Symphony
* Unveiling and free test-rides of the Vehicles of Tomorrow
* 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. We're giving away polar critters to remind kids they can be a hero: SAVE THE EARTH - RIDE A BIKE!

In addition, Break the Gridlock will host a Show & 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, visit www.AutoShowShutdown.org, call Dan Korn at 312-505-9307, or email steven@AutoShowShutdown.org.

(PDF version, 25.41 KB)