New York, NY – The public meeting at 6:30 pm tonight is titled "The Aftershocks of 9/11: Reflecting on the Crisis and Moving Forward." The Riverside Church in Harlem has a rich tradition of providing a forum for important civic and spiritual leaders. Past speakers include President Clinton, Maya Angelou, the Dalai Lama, and most recently Fidel Castro.
“All across the United States people are asking why this happened and what should be done,” says Roger Normand, Executive Director of the Center for Economic and Social Rights. “With this event we hope to generate a critical discussion and dialogue in the NY community regarding the most important global and domestic policy issues facing this country in 50 years.”
Over 2,000 people are expected to hear presentations by prominent public intellectuals on key issues concerning the global and domestic impacts of the suicide attacks on 9/11, the current war in Afghanistan, and the broader war on terrorism. Speakers include:
Richard Falk will discuss a just and legal response to 9/11. He is former Milbank Professor of International Law at Princeton University and author of Religion and Humane Global Governance and two articles in The Nation: “Defining a Just War” and “A Just Response.”
James A. Forbes, Jr. will offer opening and closing remarks. He is Senior Minister at the Riverside Church.
Manning Marable will discuss domestic repercussions of 9/11. He is a nationally and internationally recognized expert on this history of politics and race in the United States, founding Director of the African-American Institute, and Professor of History and Political Science at Columbia University.
Mahmood Mamdani will provide a global perspective on the war against terrorism. He is president of the Dakar-based Council for Development of Social Research in Africa and Herbert Lehman Professor of Government and Anthropology at Columbia University.
Syed Nauman Naqvi will discuss the view from Pakistan and Afghanistan. He is former BBC World Service producer in Pakistan, expert on issues of Central Asian security and development, and a doctoral candidate at Columbia University.
Roger Normand will introduce the session and the speakers. He is founder Director of the Center for Economic and Social Rights, adjunct professor at Columbia School of International and Public Affairs, and expert on human rights and US policy in the Middle East.
Hans von Sponeck will assess the impact of sanctions against Iraq. He is a 36-year veteran of the United Nations and former UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq who resigned to protest the sanctions policy. His most recent book is UN Policy in Iraq.
Press wishing to interview the speakers are invited to a reception at 5:30 at the 9th floor tower of the Riverside Church.
The event is co-sponsored by the Social Justice Program of the Riverside Church, the Center for Economic and Social Rights, a New York-based human rights group, the Columbia Anti-War Collective, a group of graduate students who came together as a result of September 11th.
Contacts:
Tinoa Rodgers, the Riverside Church, (212) 870-6876
Julian Liu, Center for Economic and Social Rights, (718) 237-9145
Shirabe Yamada, Columbia Anti-War Coalition, (212) 666-8513