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Religious Group Releases Anti-Casino Video

By Eileen Buckley

Buffalo, NY – The Network of Religious Communities has repeatedly spoken out against a Buffalo casino. But this time it has issued a seven-minute video titled "False Hopes."

The local religious organization is not giving up its fight against the the Seneca Nation's Buffalo Creek casino in the City's Cobblestone District. The Network of Religious Communities recently released an anti-casino video. Rev. Stanford Bratton is co-executive of the organization. Bratton says the video was created to tell the story of the negative impact a casino would have on Buffalo and Western New York. Bratton says they are working to reach out to local religious leaders and congregation to spread their anti-casino message.

The video was produced by Addison Henderson, who created the recent film called Forgotten Cities that featured Buffalo. At the beginning of the video, one man stands on a city street holding a no casino sign, with a pleading look. Rev. Bratton says the video focuses on poverty in the city, particularly around Perry Projects near the planned casino site. The video includes other statistics on the ill effects of casino gaming. It also features citizens who speak out against casinos as well as various political and local leaders, such as Assemblyman Sam Hoyt, former Assembly Speaker Arthur Eve, and Rev. Darius Pridgen, pastor of the True Bethel Baptist church.

DVDs will be distributed to area community organizations. The video can be viewed on the Network of Religious Communities website.