49 Lights: Cincinnati Remembers

Contact:                                                                  

Ericka King-Betts, PhD

chrc@cincinnati-oh.gov

(513) 352-3237

Jamie Glavic

jglavic@nurfc.org

(513) 333-7511

(513) 802-7355

Assia Johnson

asjohnson@nurfc.org

(513) 333-7555

(513) 787-2110

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Cincinnati Human Relations Commission &

National Underground Railroad Freedom Center present

49 Lights: Cincinnati Remembers

Community Vigil & Panel Discussion to Honor the 49 Victims of the Pulse Nightclub Tragedy

CINCINNATI, OH (July 19, 2016) The Cincinnati Human Relations Commission (CHRC), National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Greater Cincinnati Human Rights Campaign (HRC), Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), Office of City of Cincinnati Councilmember Chris Seelbach and University of Cincinnati LGBTQ Center are partnering to honor the victims of the Pulse Nightclub tragedy with a vigil and community conversation 49 Lights: Cincinnati Remembers on Thursday, July 28, 2016 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, 50 E. Freedom Way, Cincinnati, OH 45202. This event is free and open to the public. Seating is limited; RSVPs are requested. Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/49-lights-cincinnati-remembers-tickets-26547054956

On June 12, 2016, 49 innocent lives were lost and countless others were forever changed by an extreme act of violence in Orlando. 49 Lights: Cincinnati Remembers will honor those who have passed on with the lighting of 49 candles as the victims’ names are read and will include a panel discussion providing a call to action for our community to actively work towards having more positive human relations. This joint community program represents the diversity of cultures and the unity of our nation, here in Cincinnati.

A few of the panelists will include Amy Schlag, Director of the University of Cincinnati LGBTQ Center, Steve Newsome, HRC Steering Committee Member, Karen Dabdoub, Executive Director of the Council on American Islamic Relations and Lourdes Ribera, former LULAC Ohio and Cincinnati President.

Ericka King-Betts, PhD, Executive Director, Cincinnati Human Relations Commission, expressed her condolences stating, “We all love, hurt and bleed. And still today, all of our hearts hurt for the individuals lost, their families and the countless others impacted by this act of hate.  But, we will not allow hate to win.”

“Our nation was rocked by the tragedy in Orlando,” says Dr. Clarence G. Newsome, president of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. “This gathering of community organizations and leaders will honor those who lost their lives and outshine hate. We stand in solidarity with the LGBTQ community. We will not allow hate to win.”

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About the Cincinnati Human Relations Commission

The Cincinnati Human Relations Commission was established in November of 1943 as The Mayor’s Friendly Relations Committee. The goal was to appoint a committee that represented various racial, industrial and religious groups to make sure all groups felt a part of their communities and supported one another in the city of Cincinnati. As time passed the name was changed to CHRC and the mission grew to target a much larger issue, discrimination. Thus, the agency's mission is “to help our community to overcome prejudice and discrimination, build mutual respect and understanding, and to become more harmonious and cohesive.”