WASHINGTON, D.C (Press Release)– A bipartisan coalition of 18 U.S. Senators, led by U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, on Friday urged United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations Susan Rice to refrain from participating in the United Nation’s Durban III World Conference Against Racism, citing concerns that the conference will once again serve as a forum for anti-Semitic and anti-American demonstrations. The Senators also expressed disappointment with the United Nation’s decision to hold the conference in New York City on September 21st, 2011, just days after the tenth anniversary of the September 11th attacks.
“It is an insult to America that the United Nations has decided to hold the Durban III conference in New York City just days from the tenth anniversary of the September 11th attacks,” said Senator Gillibrand. “We all witnessed how extreme anti-Semitic and anti-American voices took over Durban I and Durban II and we should expect the same thing to happen with Durban III. I urge the Obama Administration to withdraw from the event and encourage other nations to do the same.”
In what should have been a major step towards eradicating racism worldwide, in 2001, the General Assembly of the United Nations held the first World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Offences in Durban, South Africa. Despite its noble goals, the conference became a platform for anti-Semitic and anti-American demonstrations. Last year’s Durban II was also marred by demonstrations of prejudice, forcing delegation from the U.S. and other nations to withdraw from the conference.
On November 23, 2010, the General Assembly of the United Nations announced its decision to hold the Durban III World Conference Against Racism in New York City, on September 21st, 2011. Concerned that this conference will meet a similar fate as the previous two, U.S. Senators wrote a letter to the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, urging her to remove the United States from participating in this conference.
The letter was signed by U.S. Senators Kirsten E. Gillibrand (D-NY), James E. Risch (R-ID), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), Tom Coburn (R-OK), Charles Schumer (D-NY), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Dan Inouye (D-HI), Mike Johanns (R-NE), Daniel Akaka (D-HI), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Richard Burr (R-NC), Joseph Lieberman (CT) and Mike Crapo (R-ID).
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Preceding provided by Senator Gillibrand