The tragic looting of the Iraq Museum was an unthinkable heartbreak, but also an inspiration for the creation of SAFE. Sadly, the tragedy continues with the destruction of archaeological sites all around the country, to this very day.

Since 2003, SAFE has been working on a variety of programs and events to raise awareness about the dire need to protect our shared cultural heritage.

Virtual candles lit around the world

Australia

Layla Alexander, Sydney

Ariunaa Yura, Ashgrove

Canada

Milorad Arsovic, Burlington, ON

Juliana Arsovic, Burlington, ON

Aleks Arsovic, burlington, ON
“i really think its great and me as a teenager would love to get involved.. im already trying to get my school involved:)”

Croatia (Hrvatska)

sonja defougere, zagreb

Germany

iltan benyamin, Viernheim
“Stop cultural Genocide of Cradle of civilisation namely Assyria!!!”

Iltan Benyamin, Viernheim
“Viva the Resurrection of Assyria!”

Nathan Elkins, Frankfurt am Main, Goethe Universität

India

Uma Chandru, Bangalore, International Institute for Art, Culture and Democracy
“Those who were responsible for the looting, destruction and further endangerment of this and other ancient archaeological or cultural sites must be encouraged to take responsibility and help fund and safeguard our shared tangible and intangible heritage.”

Italy

Andrea D'Achille, rome

Macedonia (FYROM)

Naroz Krestevski, Skopje

Spain

valeria gordillo-james, malaga, arca

Wendi James Davis, Marbella

Sweden

Beverly Harrington, Hasselby

Staffan Lundén, Göteborg

Patricia Marino, Knivsta

Pat Marino, Knivsta

Henrik Persson, Solna
“I am lighting this virtual candle in memory of the looting of the Bagdad museum 10-12 April 2003 - and also in memory of the following disastrous and horrible events.”

Elise Rappe, Bromma, Swedish-Iraqi Solidarity Committee

United Kingdom

Keith Amery, Surbiton

Leah Bevington, London

Karen Deighton, Northampton

Glen Kinch, Nottingham

ANNE LAWS, SELBY
“lIBRARIES AND MUSEUMS ARE THE MEMORY BANKS OF OUR SOCIETIES WTHOUT THEM WE LOSE OUR HUMANITY”

John Wood, Havant

USA

Joanna Alario, Ithaca, NY

Joanna Alario, Clifton, NJ

cate bauske, fargo, ND

Gwen Bennett, St Louis, MO, Washington University

Jill Bierly, Leeds, MA, Mead Art Museum, Amherst College

Kristin Bird, Anthem, AZ

Lucy Blake-Elahi, Los Angeles, CA, West Los Angeles College

Kate Bluhm, Cherry Hill, NJ, Rutgers University

Tyler Bosman, Muleshoe, TX

Claudia Brose, San Francisco, CA, SAFE

Alexandra Cleworth, Sturbridge, MA, SAFE

Benjamin Daniali, Gilroy, CA, AssyriaTimes
“I am an Assyrian, and most of the looted artifacts are Assyrian artifacts. I want them returned to Iraqi museums. They belong to Assyria; they belong to world’s civilization.”

Jennifer DeWan, Brooklyn, NY

Ana Escobedo, Providence, RI

Ann Fabian, New York, NY, Rutgers University

Ayelet Firstenberg, Beverly Hills, CA

Evita García Cámara, Mayagüez, PR

Diane Gifford-Gonzalez, Santa Cruz, CA, U of California- Santa Curz

Elizabeth Gilgan, Melrose, MA

Melissa Halverson, Tacoma, WA

Katherine Hill, St. Paul, MN

Cindy Ho, New York, NY

Judith Hoffmann, Brooklyn, NY

Cherkea Howery, New York, NY, AMNH and NYU Program in Museum Studies

Emily Jateff, Mt. Pleasant, SC

Caxton Kaback, Chicago, IL

Thomas King, Silver Spring, MD

Andrew Koh, Medford, MA, Tufts University

Andrew Koh, Medford, MA, Tufts University

Peter Lacovara, Atlanta, GA, M.C. Carlos Museum

Hilary Lehv, White Plains, NY

Sheri Lullo, Pittsburgh, PA

Tod Marder, New Brunswick, NJ

Paula Martino, La Plata, MD, College of Southern Maryland
“In honor of Col. Matthew Bogdanos.”

Patricia Kane McIntyre, Woodbury, NY

Jon McIntyre, Woodbury, NY

Rachel Moland, Kirkland, WA

Christine Murphy, Chicago, IL
“We can make a difference”

Elizabeth Murray, New York, NY, Museum of Sex

Andras Nagy, Cincinnati, OH, University of Cincinnati

Lauren Peck, New Brunswick, NJ

Sarah Pickman, Chicago, IL

Sarah Pickman, White Plains, NY

David Pierce, Shaker hts., OH

Barry Qualls, Highland Park, NJ, Rutgers University

Jeffrey Rosenfeld, Pensacola, FL

Lucille Roussin, New York, NY

Rebecca Rushfield, Flushing, NY

Nerissa Russell, Ithaca, NY, Cornell University

Nerissa Russell, Ithaca, NY

Kathryn Russell, Ithaca, NY

Antonia Santangelo, Brooklyn, NY

Genevieve Semple, Brooklyn, NY

Genevieve Semple, Leonardo, NJ

Cathy Smith, Richmond, RI

Sharon Steadman, Ithaca, NY

Monisha Tasker, Weston, MA, Weston Public Schools

Samantha Taylor, Tallassee, AL
“heavenly father, thank you for this day and all the things that you have done, forgive me of my sins and forgive those who have sinned against me. Lord I pray that you will heal my situation to your highest intention and Lord forgive those individuals that have hurt others. Forgive me of sinning against anyone and unawareful sins. I am lighting this candle for this situation until it is solved. Thank you Lord for your goodness, this little vigil and in jesus name, amen”

Oya Topcuoglu, Chicago, IL

Michael Trojan, Chicago, IL

Luke Wilcox, St. Paul, MN, Iraqi and American Reconciliation Project

Kerensa Wood, New Brunswick, NJ

Michael Zimmerman, Bristol, CT, Saint Paul Catholic High School

SAFE is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, and contributions are tax deductible under section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code. Upon request, a copy of the last financial report filed by SAFE may be obtained by writing SAFE/Saving Antiquities for Everyone Inc. at P.O. Box 231172, Ansonia Station, New York, NY 10023-0020, USA or the NY State Attorney General at The Capitol, Albany, NY 12224-0341.