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On the Tenth Anniversary of September 11September 9, 2011 - Posted by Ron Bigler The tenth anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks is a moment to honor and remember the nearly 3,000 victims who were killed on that day and to reaffirm a commitment to basic civil and human rights that stands against hatred and intolerance. In this spirit, The Leadership Conference Education Fund has partnered with USA Network in a public service campaign around the premiere of The Space Between, airing on Sunday, September 11 at 9 p.m Eastern/8 p.m. Central. Part of USA Network's Characters Unite campaign, The Space Between, starring Academy Award-winning actress Melissa Leo, tells the story of a 10-year-old Pakistani-American boy traveling alone on September 11, 2001 and the flight attendant who helps him return to his home in New York City, where his father had been working in the Twin Towers. In a journey that takes them from Texas to New York, the two travelers learn the importance of tolerance, renewal, and hope. In the ten years since the September 11 attacks, The Leadership Conference and its diverse coalition of more than 200 organizations have endeavored to ensure that the fundamental rights of all Americans are defended and respected. These ideas were recently affirmed in a statement of principles signed by more than 70 civil rights, human rights, civil liberties, Muslim, Jewish, and South Asian groups. Recognizing the need for all nations to provide security to their citizens, the principles affirm that the pursuit of these aims must follow "respect for diversity, fairness, and tolerance, and our commitment to protect fundamental freedoms and basic human rights." Calling for a rejection of rhetoric that instills fear and distrust among citizens, the groups encourage leaders and citizens to: Stand by each other, as we did in the days following 9/11, and throughout the last decade, to build and sustain durable partnerships to ensure that no one in our communities is singled out or demonized in this debate. The full statement of principles can be viewed below and downloaded here (PDF). Statement of Principles on Tenth Anniversary of September 11We the undersigned are a diverse group of religious, racial, ethnic, and civil and human rights organizations that have joined together in solemn remembrance of the victims of 9/11. We honor their memory on this 10th Anniversary of the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, by rededicating ourselves to core principles as set forth in this statement that reaffirm our unity of purpose as a nation, the resilience of our democracy, and our respect for fundamental freedoms. Much attention has been paid to divisions among groups and political fault lines in the public debate. For our coalition, this anniversary is an occasion to recall as well that in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, across the nation, we experienced numerous expressions of unity, empathy and a renewed faith in each other as many of us joined together in solidarity and to help one another. The events of September 11th were transformative in many ways. They shook America’s sense of security and brought home to every person the danger of extremist violence and the reality of our vulnerability. In the decade since 9/11, two administrations, the Congress, and countless state and local leaders have devoted considerable attention to domestic security challenges. The debate over how we as a country should best cope with ongoing threats is dynamic and ongoing. Effective counterterrorism is important to everyone, but policies that divide communities, inflame fear and violate human rights undermine our nation’s core values and our security. Some counterterrorism measures have resulted in insufficient adherence to constitutional protections and violations of human rights. Moreover, debates on issues such as border security have often fanned public fear and contributed to an atmosphere that fostered distrust, racial profiling and even hate violence. Too often, even well-intentioned public officials have exacerbated fears and misunderstandings. Indeed, some government policies enacted in haste after 9/11 have had discriminatory effects and singled out entire groups as targets of suspicion. This has left some in our communities feeling vulnerable and unsafe in their homes, at their workplaces, at religious gatherings, and in public spaces. This has been the case especially for immigrants, Muslims, Sikhs, South Asians, and Arabs. Left unaddressed, these conditions threaten to undermine efforts to promote safety and security. We know from experience that America’s historic commitment to civil and human rights is not an impediment to public safety but rather offers a more enduring and effective approach by ensuring that all communities are not alienated or scapegoated. This anniversary is also a moment to reflect on the importance of maintaining America’s standing as a global leader. The U.S. speaks proudly to other countries about the need to protect human rights while fulfilling the duty of a government to protect the security of its people. Our decades of experience as a coalition fighting hate crimes have shown the power of diverse groups working together and partnering with law enforcement to shape effective responses. These efforts have required public-private partnerships to challenge bias, prejudice and profiling based on race, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion and disability. We anticipate building on that experience to bring together groups and political and civic leadership to advance our common goal to build secure and inclusive communities that reflect our nation’s values and its diversity. We pledge to:
Supporting Organizations Alliance for Justice Read Report: Restoring a National Consensus: The Need to End Racial Profiling
"Restoring a National Consensus: The Need to End Racial Profiling in America" is an update of our 2003 report, "Wrong Then, Wrong Now: Racial Profiling Before and After September 11, 2001." Sadly, 10 years after 9/11, the problem of racial profiling continues to be a significant national concern that demands priority attention. In releasing this report, our goals are to examine the use of racial profiling in the street-level context in which it originally arose, in the newer context of counterterrorism, and in the most recent context of immigration; and to re-establish a national consensus against racial profiling in all its forms. Full report (PDF) Table of Contents
Watch PSA's with Dave Matthews: 'We Are All Americans'On September 11, 2001, America, having come under attack as one nation, responded as one nation. A PSA campaign, spearheaded by musician Dave Matthews and sponsored by The Leadership Conference Education Fund, reminds viewers that hate is America's enemy. more >>
Learn More about the Issues the Leadership Conference Is Working OnThe Leadership Conference works on a wide range of issues representative of the breadth of today's civil rights movement. You can find an overview of some of those issues below, or use this site's search function to find information on more specific topics. Related PostsMore Than 70 Organizations Sign Shared Statement of Principles on Tenth Anniversary of 9/11 Attacks - 4/2/12
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