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Fellowship of Reconciliation
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
APRIL 17, 2003
2:37 PM
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CONTACT:
Fellowship of Reconciliation
Sonia Dueno, 202-488-5613, sdueno@umc-gbcs.org
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Follow-Up of Durban World Conference Against
Racism Continues to Build a Vision of Racial Justice in Post
9/11 Era
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| WASHINGTON
- April 17 - On May 1-4, at George Washington University, Marvin
Center, Washington, D. C., over 300 persons are expected to attend
"Movement Beyond Borders" a historic conference to followup on
the work started during the World Conference against Racism, Xenophobia,
and Related Intolerance (WCAR) held in Durban, South Africa in
September, 2001.
The conference
sponsors are a coalition of organizations and individuals. The
coalition is organizing a gathering of indigenous peoples, immigrant
and refugee communities, African Americans and others of African
descent, Latinos, Asians, Pacific Islanders, Arab, Middle Eastern,
and South Asian communities, low income and working people, and
their allies from all over the United States to come together
to continue the work of the Durban conference.
"This effort
is more critical than ever because the issues of racism and injustice
highlighted in Durban have not disappeared but have been heightened
by the recent assaults on and curtailments of civil liberties
during this post 9/11 era of government sponsored terrorism,"
stated Patricia Clark, National Coordinator of the Fellowship
of Reconciliation, one of the planning organizations.
"The World
Conference against Racism, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerance
(WCAR) brought activists together from all over the world to develop
a shared vision and political agenda to combat racism, xenophobia,
and intolerance," said Shweta Parmar, organizer of the upcoming
May conference, "But we realized that the work had just begun.
Now, instead of a world of justice, we see a world where the US
Government continues to use the tragedy of 9-11 as a justification
for permanent war against anyone who does not support US hegemony.
Under the guise of national consensus and preserving freedom,"
she continued, "human rights are threatened and international
law violated by policies of pre-emptive military strikes. It is
a sad fact that racism is alive and well in the 21st century and
xenophobia, defined as a fear of or hatred of strangers, is rampant.
It is imperative that all those who believe in justice and peace
unite and move ahead as a global force for racial and social justice".
Conference
highlights include a youth summit, a movement building bazaar
and action plans to advance an anti-racism, peace with justice
movement. All day workshops will explore racism, xenophobia and
intolerance in areas of environment, health, education, and religion;
intersectionality within communities of color, youth, LGBT, women,
and faith communities with special foci on war and militarism,
the prison industrial complex, immigrant rights, global economics
and grassroots organizing tools. On Sat., May 3 from 9 p.m - 1
a.m., at the Marvin Center's Grand Ballroom, the 5 year anniversary
"Celebration for Unity in Diversity Day 5" a world-beat party
and cultural marketplace will provide an exciting fundraiser for
the conference in observance of the commemorative wholyday (holiday).
Another special conference highlight will be a dinner and community
"Town Meeting on War, Racism & Globalization" to be held at First
Congregational Church, 10 & G St. N.W. from 6 - 10 p.m.
Organizational
sponsors of this World Conference include: African American Empowerment
Program - American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), AfricanAmerican
Holiday Association, American Friends Service Committee, Black
Radical Congress, Breakthrough, CAAAV: Organizing Asian Communities,
Center of Concern, Center for Democratic Renewal, Coalicion de
Derechos Humanos, Fellowship of Reconciliation, Global Afrolatino
Caribbean Initiative, INCITE, International Human Rights Law Group,
International Possibilities Unlimited, Islamic Alliance for Justice
- GWU, Mississippi Workers Center for Human Rights, National Network
for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, Project Change, Southeast Regional
Economic Justice Network, Third World Coalition -AFSC, United
to End Racism, WILD for Human Rights, Women of Color Resource
Center.
To register
or for additional information on the Movement Beyond Borders Conference,
view the web site http://www.movementbeyondborders.org
or contact 202-488-5613
###
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