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AFSC Premieres Antiwar Music Video

Robert Cray in his new music video "Twenty". Photo from video, courtesy Robert Cray
Watch the video

Aidan Delgado, an Iraq War veteran, portrays a soldier in the video. / AFSC

New Music Video Features "Eyes Wide Open" Boots

Last November 1, as the sun rose over a farm near Dover, New Hampshire the Eyes Wide Open crew once again began laying out more than two thousand pairs of boots representing the U.S. military personnel killed in Iraq. But this was not a standard stop on the nation-wide tour of AFSC’s acclaimed anti-war exhibit.

The boots were being prepared to play a role in a music video for blues musician Robert Cray’s poignant new song, “Twenty”, telling the story of a young soldier, who questions his mission in Iraq, but is killed before his deployment is up.

The video, directed by Robert Cray’s wife, Susan Turner-Cray stars Aidan Delgado, a 23-year-old Iraq-war veteran who served in Nasiriyah and at Abu Ghraib prison, before securing conscientious objector status and returning to the U.S. David Goodman, one of the Eyes Wide Open tour managers, has a cameo role in the video as a Vietnam Veteran.

The Crays had heard about the Eyes Wide Open exhibit, but had not seen it when they began developing ideas for the music video. They contacted the Chicago AFSC office and began arrangements to feature the exhibit in the production. After many potential sites were considered, the rolling hills behind the New Hampshire farmhouse of Todd and Kristin Adelman was offered and chosen. Cinematographer, Jonathon Millman signed on to shoot the video and other local actors and crew joined the effort – donating their time out of commitment to the concept.

Earlier this year, it was announced that Cray’s album, also named “Twenty” has been nominated for a Grammy as Best Contemporary Blues Album.

American Friends Service Committee

From the video, you and your friends will be encouraged to sign the “Not One More Death, Not One More Dollar” letter to Congress. So far, more than 40,000 people have signed AFSC's letter, calling on Congress to stop funding the war in Iraq.

The letter is one tool AFSC will use to make a big statement next month when Congress is expected to debate a new war supplemental funding bill. In January, officials reported that the Bush Administration does not intend to seek new funds for Iraq reconstruction. AFSC's campaign will encourage members of Congress to speak out for reconstructing Iraq, not continued war and destruction. This video will help reach out to music lovers to join AFSC in calling to fund reconstruction, not war, in Iraq.

**American Friends Service Committee**

posted by Annamarie at 7:04 PM