At Gillibrand's Urging, U.S. Announces Pull-Out From U.N. Durban III Summit

Press Release

Senator Led Bipartisan Effort Urging U.S. To Skip Forum For Anti-Semitic And Anti-American Demonstrations

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today commended the announcement from the Obama Administration that the U.S. will refrain from participating in the United Nation's Durban III World Conference Against Racism.

In December, Senator Gillibrand led a bipartisan effort urging the U.S. not to participate in the conference that will likely 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 21 st, 2011, just days after the tenth anniversary of the September 11th attacks.

"I commend the Obama Administration decision to withdraw from this event," Senator Gillibrand said. "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. 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."

In what should have been a major step toward 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.

Senator Gillibrand's December letter was also signed by 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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