2007 Press Releases

The U.S. ambassador closes Black History Month with film screening

Riga, February 23, 2007. – On Monday, February 26, at 18:30 at the Kino Riga the United States Ambassador to Latvia Catherine Todd Bailey will close Black History Month by hosting a screening of the Oscar winning film “Mississippi Burning”. The event will be co-hosted by Foreign Affairs Minister Artis Pabriks.

Ambassador Bailey said: “When watching the film, we must remember that the roots of hatred lie deep in human history and a look at any newspaper today will show that violence in the cause of bigotry is ready to erupt whenever people allow it. Only when a culture is strong enough to face its own fears, with confidence and with clear self-knowledge, can parents teach their children to love those who look different or pray differently from themselves rather than hate them.”

Prior to the screening, the Ambassador will announce winners of the essay contest “Why Black History Month should be celebrated in Latvia”. The contest was one of the activities the U.S. embassy sponsored during Black History Month. The Education USA Information and Testing Center coordinated the contest, which was advertised throughout Latvia to all 9-12 grade students. The students who wrote the top essays will be awarded gift certificates and English – Latvian dictionaries.

“Mississippi Burning” won the Academy Award for best cinematography and was nominated for six others including best actor in a leading role, Gene Hackman.

Ambassador Bailey and Minister Pabriks will be available to the press at 18:00 at Cinema Riga.

U.S. Embassy, Riga, Public Affairs Section
Smilsu iela 7
Riga, LV 1050
Phone: 371 750-9022, 371 750-9037
Internet: http://riga.usembassy.gov
Media specialist's e-mail: dilanes@state.gov, abolad@state.gov