Rock Legend Peter Gabriel to Play a Benefit Concert for Human Rights at WOMAD 2009

Rock Legend Peter Gabriel to Play a Benefit Concert for Human Rights at WOMAD 2009

NEW YORK, July 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- World-renowned musician and activist Peter Gabriel has chosen the World of Music, Arts and Dance (WOMAD) Festival in Bath, UK to be the location of his first ever benefit concert for WITNESS, the human rights organization Gabriel founded in 1992. The concert on Saturday, July 25th, 2009 will be Gabriel's only scheduled performance in Europe, and an excellent opportunity to connect his fans and music lovers to a cause he has always championed.

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WITNESS Executive Director Yvette AlberdingkThimj stated, "We have seen most recently from the video footage from Iran that freedom of expression continues to be under threat there and in many other countries, which is why I am tremendously moved by Peter's generosity." She added, "This concert provides concertgoers a unique opportunity to engage with Peter Gabriel the musician and the activist, an artist who is steadfast in his defense of human rights."

Gabriel, a longtime activist in the human rights community, founded WITNESS (www.witness.org) soon after video footage of Rodney King's brutal beating made its way around the globe, and proved the power of visual images to expose abuses, as well as catalyze debate and action. WITNESS, based in Brooklyn, was created to empower people to use video and online technologies to transform personal stories of abuse into powerful tools for justice, promoting public engagement and policy change.

Gabriel has combined his involvement in social activism with his love for cultural exchange in the arts through WOMAD. The WOMAD festival was founded by Gabriel to celebrate diversity in music. For their 13th year, WOMAD is bringing together a wide variety of musicians, artists and dancers from across the globe.

For interviews or to learn more about WITNESS, please contact Su Patel at
Suvasini@witness.org or 718-783-2000 ext. 316. Ticket and concert details at
http://womad.org/festivals/charlton-park/.
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Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090715/DC46383
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Source: WITNESS

CONTACT: Suvasini Patel, WITNESS, +1-718-783-2000 ext. 316,
suvasini@witness.org

Web Site: http://www.witness.org/

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