#TruthWeek September 14-18, 2020 will be an event like no other, coming at an extremely contentious time in our history. All over the world, 2020 has been a year filled with tragedy and uncertainty as well as division. However, the United States has been at the center of the majority of this division and unrest for many reasons. Among these is the reality that we are a country that simply has been left unhealed because we have never truly addressed the root causes of our division. That is why events such as #TruthWeek are so important.
#TruthWeek is sponsored by the Office of Congresswoman Barbara Lee, the US National Truth Coalition, and many partners including #BreatheWithMe Revolution and Mary Hoch Center for Reconciliation (MHCR). #TruthWeek aims to create widespread support for H.Con.Res. 100 to establish a United States Commission for Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation introduced by Congresswoman Barbara Lee in June 2020 in the wake of the George Floyd racial justice awakening. H.R. 40, introduced by Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, calls for a U.S. Commission for reparations from slavery as well. #TruthWeek wil be a time for us to put pressure on other members of Congress to support these bills, as well as serve as a learning opportunity for us who want to see changes made in our country.
A U.S. Commission on Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation is not a new idea, nor are reparations a new objective. There are many countries around the world who have suffered apartheid, ethnic cleansing and genocide but have also been able to move forward with greater healing and transformation than what we have seen in United States.
On Friday, September 18th, the final day of #TruthWeek, the Mary Hoch Center for Reconciliation will convene with the Office of Congresswoman Barbara Lee and #BreathWithMe to facilitate an interactive exchange among speakers from South Africa, Canada, and South America who will share their experiences and lessons learned from national truth-telling and reconciliation processes in their own contexts. They will share with a U.S. audience how racial healing and equity can become possible with the right methods in place. Through the wisdom that they will share we hope to learn more about how the U.S. can learn from other contexts on ways to advance racial healing and equity moving forward.
Speakers:
Dr. Fanie du Toit
Rev. Mpho Tutu
Marie Wilson, Former Commissioner
Eduardo Gonzalez, Independent Expert
Shelly Marc, Deputy Chief of Staff
Dr. Paul Zeitz, #BreathWithMe Revolution
The event will be moderated by Antti Pentikainen, Director of the Mary Hoch Center for Reconciliation
You can register for the webinar event here.
For more information on how to get involved with the #BreatheWithMe Revolution and their important work in truth, racial healing, and transformation, click HERE.
The event is also part of +Peace peace campaign week, whose program can be seen HERE.