New Haven, CT - For the first time since its launch in 2000, Freedom Schooner Amistad will bring its message of reconciliation and harmony among races to the Great Lakes. After completing successful visits along the United States' East and Gulf coasts, AMISTAD America, Inc. has dedicated itself to bringing the historic lessons of perseverance, cooperation, leadership, and justice inherent in The Amistad Incident of 1839 to cities in America's heartland.

Freedom Schooner Amistad will launch her 2003 Great Lakes Tour with a much anticipated visit to Portland, Maine in May. Amistad will then proceed to Cleveland, Ohio; Toledo, Ohio; Sheboygan, Wisconsin; Muskegon, Michigan; Chicago, Illinois; Detroit, MI; Sandusky, OH; Ashtabula, OH; Buffalo, NY and the 2003 Great Lakes Tour will culminate with a September visit to Oswego, NY. In every city, Amistad will offer educational tours to school children and the general public.

Many organizations have played vital roles in sponsoring Freedom Schooner Amistad's 2003 Great Lakes Tour. KeyBank's sponsorship of Portland, Toledo, Buffalo and Cleveland was instrumental in launching Amistad's visit to the Great Lakes. The United Church of Christ, a charter sponsor of AMISTAD America, Inc. and a devoted supporter, has played an instrumental role in sponsoring Amistad's Cleveland visit and is vital to the Great Lakes effort as a whole. United Church of Christ ministries are spearheading Amistad's visits to Portland, Ashtabula, Sheboygan, Detroit, Oswego and Boston. Other notable hosts include the City of Chicago, Chicago's DuSable Museum of African-American History, the Chicago ministry of the United Church of Christ, the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society, the Sandusky Area Maritime Association and the Urban League of Greater Muskegon.

For more information on Freedom Schooner Amistad's 2003 Great Lakes Tour, please visit www.amistadamerica.org or call (866) AMISTAD. Freedom Schooner Amistad's officers and crew are available for interviews, live from the boat or in-studio. To schedule live broadcasts or interviews, please call Kori Anderson at (203) 495-1839 ext. 20.

The Amistad Incident and AMISTAD America, Inc
The events involving the coastal trader La Amistad grew out of the Transatlantic Slave Trade and became a local southern New England event, evolving into an international affair. The Amistad Incident is considered by scholars to be the only instance in American history in which a diverse group of citizens worked within the U.S. court system on behalf of kidnapped Africans to ultimately win their freedom and repatriation. This 19th century story still has worldwide importance today.

AMISTAD America, Inc. is a national, non-profit educational organization. Its mission is to promote reconciliation and harmony among races through ownership and operation of Freedom Schooner Amistad. Amistad visits ports nationally and internationally as an ambassador for friendship and good will-it serves as an icon and catalyst for teaching the historic lessons of perseverance, cooperation, leadership, and justice inherent in The Amistad Incident of 1839-and it is a floating classroom and monument to the millions of souls that were broken or lost as a result of the insidious Transatlantic Slave Trade. The vessel offers an important message for all Americans about our collective history and future.

Individuals can support AMISTAD America, Inc. and Freedom Schooner Amistad by becoming members or donating to our organization. For more information, please visit our web site, www.amistadamerica.org. AMISTAD America, Inc. is located at 746 Chapel Street, Suite 300, in New Haven, CT. The home port of Freedom Schooner Amistad is Long Wharf in New Haven, CT.