Why This Exhibition? Why Now?
At a time when hate crimes and acts of intimidation appear to be on the rise throughout the United States, Without Sanctuary serves as a stark reminder that freedom comes with a solemn responsibility of all citizens to treat others with dignity, respect and fairness. Lynching is a gross perversion of these essential human and civil rights, and as such, they represent an assault on civilization itself.
Showing Without Sanctuary serves three purposes:
- it presents an historical look back to a dark, often overlooked chapter of American history that many would prefer to forget;
- the exhibition bears witness to the victims, and to those whose individual and collective efforts helped end lynching and restore the rule of law;
- it serves as a reminder that there are vulnerable populations still today – minorities, gays and lesbians, transgender individuals and others – who need sanctuary from intimidation and oppression.
Without Sanctuary demonstrates the fragility of freedom, and the moral duty of citizens to stand in opposition to those who would usurp essential human and civil rights. This collection, along with dozens of other riveting exhibitions, will be part of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. To learn more visit www.cchrpartnership.org.
