On November 4-5, 2022, the Cinema Arts Centre (Huntington, NY), will present a two-day conference, Extremism: Confronting Hate Without Fear. This event will bring together some of the country's leading experts on extremism to examine the growing threat of radicalization in America and around the world. Showcased at this event will include a selection of award-winning films, with their filmmakers, along with authors, journalists, experts, and academics on dimensions of the topic of extremism. During panel discussions audience members will get to hear first-hand about the use of hate speech in social media, explore moral questions of bioethics, understand what life is like inside extremism movements, hear about its influencers, and life after someone decides to leave extremism. The focus will be to not only explore the growing trends of extremism but to identify ways that communities can unite and find solutions for this destructive trend.
Long Island’s first major conference to cover the growing trend of extremism, the event will feature four programs: Next Generation Now: Growing Influencers in the Alt Right and the Language They Use, The Breeding Ground of Extremism: Exploring the Use of Social and Online Media, Extremism and Bioethics: Exploring the Moral Dimensions of Abortion, Vaccination and Public Health, and Life After Extremism. Each of the segments will focus on an issue that intersects with current extremist movements, legislation affecting women’s rights, vaccine misinformation, Internet radicalization, and others aspects of misinformation and propaganda. Audience members will have a chance to pose questions to speakers and panelists and meet them following each segment.
The two featured films, White Noise (2020) and Personhood (2019), explore the topics of right-wing extremist influencers, and the policing of pregnant women in America.
Guest speakers include:
- Jo Ardinger, director of the documentary film “Personhood: Policing Pregnant Women in America”,
- Daniel Lombroso, director of the film, “White Noise”, The New Yorker.
- Jacob Appel, MD, JD, MPH, bioethicist, social critic and author of 20 books including, “Who Says You’re Dead? Medical and Ethical Dilemmas for the Curious and Concerned.”
- Michael Edison Hayden, senior investigative reporter and spokesperson, Southern Poverty Law Center
- Helio Fred Garcia, crisis expert and author of “Words on Fire: The Power of Incendiary Language and How to Confront It”
- Patrick Riccards, CEO, Life After Hate
- Christopher Mathias, senior reporter, Huff Post
Film director Daniel Lombroso commented, "I'm thrilled to share White Noise with the Long Island community and discuss my insights as a result of the three years I spent filming it across a dozen countries. With nationalism surging in the US and Europe, it's critical to discuss the roots of this dangerous ideology and where it's heading next”.
Physician, lawyer and bioethicist Jacob Appel stated, "I'm delighted to be taking part in this important event at the Cinema Arts Centre at such a crucial moment in our history.” “As both a mental health provider and a bioethicist, I think one of the best tools we have against extremism is to acknowledge its presence and to increase awareness. This conference offers a valuable opportunity to do so."
Student Scholar Awards are available for high school and university students who would Ike to attend this event. Interested students should email nate@cinemaartscentre.org if they are interested in applying for a Student Scholar Award. It should be noted this is an in-person event.
“I am honored that the Cinema Arts Centre immediately was interested in holding this event when I brought the idea to them this summer”, said Jacqueline Strayer, Cinema Arts Centre Trustee, consultant and faculty member at New York University and Columbia University. “It is our hope that many of our community’s young people will attend given the generous support of our Board and local organizations that are helping to underwrite this event and provide student scholarships. It is vital our community understands the implications of extremism and its destructive consequences.”
The receptions following the segments will feature live musical performances and a diverse selection of food from local restaurants.
“The Cinema Arts Centre has a nearly fifty-year history of bringing topics of social consequence to our community. This event underscores the values we have at the Cinema Arts Centre, and we are delighted to have such impressive speakers and topics discussed in our community, as we explore this troubling and growing issue of extremism”, said Dylan Skolnick, co-director, Cinema Arts Centre.
Numerous community groups have joined the Cinema Arts Centre as partners in this event. Interested organizations and individuals who would like to be communication partners and sponsors, please contact rene@cinemaartscentre.org.
Location: Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave, Huntington, NY 11743
Program Schedule:
- Next Generation Now: Growing Influencers in the Alt Right and the Language They Use - Friday, November 4th at 7pm
- The Breeding Ground of Extremism: Exploring the Use of Social and Online Media - Saturday, November 5th at 10am
- Extremism and Bioethics: Exploring the Moral Dimensions of Abortion, Vaccination and Public Health - Saturday, November 15th at 2:30pm
- Life After Extremism - Saturday, November 15th at 5pm
For the full detailed program including speaker information and ticket purchase, access here: Extremism: Confronting Hate Without Fear
The Cinema Arts Centre (CAC) is Long Island’s premier, year-round, independent and international film showcase and its leading 501(c)3 not-for-profit community cinema. Located on Long Island’s North Shore, just an hour from Manhattan, the CAC is unique in scope and programming, with three state-of-the-art theaters, including a main theater holding nearly 300 seats. Founded by Vic Skolnick, Charlotte Sky and Dylan Skolnick in 1973, the CAC serves approximately 150,000 individuals each year. For more information, please visit https://cinemaartscentre.org.