For Immediate Release
Wednesday, January 9, 2019
LAWMAKERS & ADVOCATES GATHER TO HONOR JAMAL KHASHOGGI
ON 100-DAY ANNIVERSARY OF HIS DEATH
Members of Congress, nonprofit and journalistic organizations, along with friends of Jamal Khashoggi unite to honor his memory and to stand up for press freedom around the world.
(Washington D.C., United States) On Thursday, January 10, 2019, a bipartisan event will take place in the U.S. Capitol marking 100 days since the death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi and highlighting threats to press freedom and the safety of journalists worldwide. Hosted by U.S. Representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Steve Chabot (R-OH), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Freedom of the Press Caucus, and Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), the bipartisan event will be attended by Members on both the House and Senate side, along with Jamal Khashoggi’s friends and colleagues from the Washington Post, media organizations, and free press advocates to show support for international press freedom and to stand united against attacks on journalists worldwide.
The event was spearheaded by Lawrence Wright, staff writer at The New Yorker and a friend of Mr. Khashoggi, along with support from former FBI special agent Ali Soufan and filmmaker Alex Gibney. Human rights, nonprofit and journalistic organizations will also lend their support to this initiative including Human Rights Watch, PEN America, Reporters Without Borders, The Committee to Protect Journalists, The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, and the Writers Guild of America, East and Writers Guild of America West. PEN America provided artwork to commemorate the day – a portrait of Jamal Khashoggi by artists Molly Crabapple and Saudi artist Ms. Saffaa. The Committee to Protect Journalists have commissioned a piece honoring the 53 journalists killed in 2018.
ABOUT THE EVENT
The invite-only event will take place on Thursday, January 10, at 5 pm ET in the Capitol. The event is hosted by U.S. Representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Steve Chabot (R-OH), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Freedom of the Press Caucus, and Senator Mark Warner (D-VA). The event is co-sponsored in the House of Representatives by Reps. Eliot Engel, Mike McCaul, Lloyd Doggett, Will Hurd, Jackie Speier, and Stephen Lynch. The event is led in the Senate by Sen. Mark Warner, and co-sponsored by Sens. Tim Kaine, Amy Klobuchar, Chris Coons, Ed Markey, and Tammy Duckworth. This event is for credentialed media only. A live stream will be made available.
ABOUT THE ART
PEN America has provided an original portrait of Jamal Khashoggi by artists Molly Crabapple and Saudi artist Ms. Saffaa (a high-resolution image may be found here). The Committee to Protect Journalists has commissioned a piece honoring the 53 journalists killed in 2018 (a high-resolution image found here). Images may be used by media, but the organizations and artists must be credited accordingly.
MEDIA CONTACT
For any inquiries or interview requests please contact:
Stephanie Foggett
The Soufan Center
+1-646-233-1704
stephanie.foggett@thesoufancenter.org
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