The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center will host a community forum, “A Faith & Culture Dialogue on BODIES…The Exhibition,” on Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 6 p.m. in the Center’s Harriet Tubman Theater. Part two of the discussion will be held on Thursday, May 29 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Cincinnati Museum Center.

The Forum will discuss issues that have arisen about the source of the bodies used in the blockbuster exhibit, “BODIES…The Exhibition,” currently on display at the Cincinnati Museum Center.

During the May 22 community forum, area faith leaders including Rabbi Gary Walter, Temple Sholom; Dr. Wenyi Wang, Falun Gong Faith and Fr. Robert Jack, will explore the rights and freedoms of the deceased and the issue of human rights. On May 29, Mr. James Jackson, Cincinnati Enquirer and Ms. Suzanne Costandi will discuss various community opinions on this issue.

The forums are designed to provide a “safe-house” environment for the public to discuss issues of human rights and science education. Small groups within the audiences will have the opportunity to dialogue with each other focusing on the question, “In what ways can I make a difference on the issue of exhibiting deceased human bodies, where the bodies are utilized with or without consent of the individual?”

Mr. Carl Westmoreland, Freedom Center Senior Advisor and Freedom Radio host, will moderate the discussions. Sponsors of the forums are the University of Cincinnati Just Community, Cincinnati MuseumCenter, Faith Community Alliance, Archdiocese of Cincinnati Catholic Social Action Office, BRIDGES for a Just Community, Cincinnati Human Relations Commission, Japanese American Citizens League (Cincinnati Chapter) and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.

If you can’t attend, you can listen to a live streaming broadcast starting at 6 p.m by clicking here. The events are free and open to the public. Parking is available for $5. For more information, please call 513.333.7518.

During the first hour Mr. Westmoreland dialogues with Janice Tsai Jezek, the leading voice in grassroots opposition to Bodies: The Exhibit at the Museum Center in Cincinnati.

During the second hour Mr. Westmoreland and Tonya Matthews, Vice President of Museums at the Museum Center, discusses the Museum Center’s mission, the process the Museum Center engaged when deciding to display Bodies: The Exhibition, and their commitment to dialogue with the community about the resulting controversy.

Click here to listen to the archive.

Listen to Freedom Station Radio every Tuesday afternoon from 2:00 to 4:00.  You will find it online, www.FreedomCenter.org.

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