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Just before the annual American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conference in Washington, DC, the 2021 annual conference about free speech, Israel, the Israel lobby and Palestine will be held on Friday, March 5, 2021 at the National Press Club in the nation’s capital. There will also be a gala dinner at the Press Club on Thursday, March 4. This educational event is open to the public and will examine the strategies, tactics and policies of Israel and its U.S. lobby.
The registration desk for gaining entry to this event opens promptly at 8 AM. Attendees may be asked to present a government-issued or student ID in order to receive their entry badge. We ask that attendees wear their badge at all times while inside the National Press Club.
Confirmed speakers:
Roger Waters is a legendary English rock musician, singer-songwriter, and composer best known for his work with the rock band Pink Floyd. Over the last few years, he has emerged as one of the world’s most prominent advocates for Palestinian human rights and a cultural boycott of Israel.
Gideon Levy is a columnist for the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. In his keynote speech he will discuss the nature of democracy in Israel, questions about human rights, the occupation and apartheid, and his views on the trajectory of Israeli and U.S. news media and how both could improve their reporting.
Juan Cole is the Richard P. Mitchell collegiate professor of history at the University of Michigan. For three decades, he has sought to put the relationship of the West and the Muslim world in historical context. A prominent public intellectual, Cole is the creator of the award-winning blog Informed Comment, which averages 4.5 million page views a year.
Joseph Massad is a professor at Columbia University. He will deliver a keynote speech on the differences between progressive, peace-oriented, and liberal Israel lobby groups and establishment organizations such as AIPAC, and on the future of Palestine.
Stephen Walt is a professor at Harvard University, and co-author of The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy. His keynote address will explore the advantages of abandoning the “special relationship” with Israel, adopting a more even-handed U.S. “offshore balancing” strategy in the Middle East, and how to make such a transition.
Sut Jhally, professor of communication at the University of Massachusetts, will reflect and comment on key findings from his 2016 documentary, “The Occupation of the American Mind,” about pro-Israel public relations efforts in the U.S. Jhally will assess whether American mass media has been getting better—or worse—since the documentary was produced.
Rev. Dr. Don Wagner recently retired as national program director of Friends of Sabeel-North America. Prior to that he was a professor of Middle East studies at North Park University, where he was also the director of its Center for Middle Eastern Studies.
Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb has been involved in multifaith, intergenerational and multiracial organizing around issues of economic, racial, indigenous and gender justice, and in pursuit of Palestinian human rights for five decades.
Aman Aberra is a graduate student at Duke University and activist with Duke Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), a member of the Demilitarize! Durham2Palestine (D2P) coalition. Since his undergraduate years at Arizona State University, Aberra has worked with SJP to counter the U.S.-backed Israeli occupation and apartheid of Palestine and advocate for freedom, justice and equality for the Palestinian people.
Sumaya Awad is a Palestinian organizer and author based in New York City. She has written extensively on the politics of Palestine, and on the fight against Islamophobia and xenophobia in the United States and internationally.
FAQs
Where can I contact the organizer with any questions?
Any inquiries may be directed to Dale Sprusansky at [email protected].
Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?
We require either the printed ticket or a digital copy to scan the ticket barcode. You will also need a QR code we provide in order to pass through the venue's security gates.
What is the refund policy?
Since we had to reschdule this event due to the coronavirus pandemic, any ticket purchased before March 25, 2020 is eligable for a full refund. All refund requests must be submitted to [email protected] by May 25, 2020. All tickets purchased after March 25, 2020 are final and not eligable for a refund.
How do press/media gain credentials?
Members of the news media may request credentials beginning two weeks before the conference.
How do students gain free admission?
Currently enrolled college or university students may apply for complimentery tickets on our website. Students outside of the DC metropolitan area are eligible to apply for travel scholarships.
Will food be provided?
A boxed lunch will be provided along with coffee/tea throughout the day.
Only the official videographer and accredited members of the news media will be allowed to record this event. Attendees are allowed to take still photos without using a flash. Because lunch and coffee/tea breaks are being provided, no outside food or beverage is permitted into the ballroom. Self-check coat racks are available, but the National Press Club and organizers are not responsible for lost or stolen items. Attendees are asked to store suitcases, large backpacks or other similarly bulky items elsewhere before attending this event.
No public dissemination of third-party information in conjunction with or during the event is permitted without the express prior written permission of the organizers 30 days in advance of the conference. Individuals or organizations that violate or have in the past violated these conference or National Press Club rules or who disrupt orderly proceedings may have their conference credentials and/or tickets revoked and may not be permitted to participate in future events.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
The National Press Club, Washington, United States
Tickets
USD 0.00 to USD 384.00