Institute for Politics, Policy and History, Presents Top Panel to discuss Russian Disinformation Warfare: Democracy in Peril – June 24th @ 7pm
June 24, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: John Gordon, Jr. Communications Director
202.274.5998 (o) or 202.701.8805 (c) or john.gordon@udc.edu
INSTITUTE FOR POLITICS, POLICY, AND HISTORY, PRESENTS TOP PANEL TO DISCUSS
RUSSIAN DISINFORMATION WARFARE: DEMOCRACY IN PERIL
Washington, DC —The sanctity and integrity of American democracy, once the envy of the world, is increasingly threatened by Russia and other bad actors. On June 24, 2019, at 7 pm in the Student Center Ballroom (4200 Connecticut Avenue NW), the University of the District of Columbia’s Institute of Politics, Policy, and History (www.ipph.org) will examine the immediate and long-term dangers of such attacks. The expert panel includes:
Malcolm Nance — leading specialist on intelligence, and regular MSNBC contributor
Ambassador Daniel Fried — American diplomat and Distinguished Fellow at the Atlantic Council
Congressman Jamie Raskin— (D, MD), Member of the House Judiciary Committee and the Committee on Oversight and Reform
Virginia Kase — League of Women Voters CEO, and proponent of For the People Act
Professor Gilda Daniels — voting rights expert, Advancement Project, University of Baltimore School of Law
Rev. Mark Thompson — moderator, political commentator, and UDC alumnus
Malcolm Nance, author of “The Plot to Destroy Democracy,” will describe Russia’s use of cyberwarfare and political propaganda in the 2016 campaign, and Vladimir Putin’s continuing attempts to weaponize American news and social media.
Ambassador Fried, who has testified before Congress on these topics, says: “At its best, the United States has championed a rules-based world which favors democracy, knowing that America’s interests and values would advance together. Despite our many mistakes, America’s leadership since 1945 brought the longest period of great power peace in history, with unprecedented prosperity and democracy. But today, we face aggression from Putin’s Russia and challenges from authoritarian China, and even more alarming are doubts from within, including questioning of our own values. Disinformation is one tool in the Russian playbook and, as Americans learned the hard way, it can inflame prejudice, doubt, and fear.”
Congressman Raskin, who has become increasingly outspoken regarding the Mueller Report findings, to include the unmistakable fact of Russian interference in 2016, will provide reflections as to whether there is now “official” concern regarding possible disinformation warfare in the 2020 election process.
Virginia Kase and the League of Women Voters are working aggressively to engage citizens by informing them about these threats and encouraging voter participation.
Professor Gilda Daniels, a Deputy Chief in the Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Voting Section, in both the Clinton and Bush administrations, serves as the Litigation Director of the Advancement Project. A voting rights and election law expert, she will provide historical context for the issues of voter suppression and foreign government interference.
Sharon Pratt, former DC Mayor and Founding Director of IPPH, says that the Democracy in Peril panel will illustrate how crucial it is to protect and maintain our electoral system and other elements of our democracy.
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