Local councillor criticises plans for 9/11 "Watch Party" in Bournemouth
The event is due to take place tomorrow on the 25th Anniversary of the attacks
A local councillor has criticised plans for a so-called 9/11 "Watch Party" in Bournemouth.
Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Simon McCormack-Burton has said that he does not believe it is an appropriate way to mark the 25th anniversary of the terror attacks in the United States.
The event was due to take place tomorrow (11 September) at the Wild Café in Boscombe but the the venue has since told us it has asked the organisers Verdurin to find an alternative location for the event.
In a statement on social media Cllr McCormack-Burton said: "Nearly 3,000 people were murdered on 9/11, while countless survivors, emergency workers and bereaved families continue to live with the consequences. This was a real human tragedy—not entertainment, a “watch party” or an experience to be recreated for an audience.
"There are respectful ways to remember the victims, educate people about what happened and examine how the attacks changed the world. But packaging their final moments and the suffering of their families as an immersive event crosses a line and risks turning tragedy into spectacle.
"I do not believe this is appropriate for Bournemouth, particularly on such a significant anniversary. I urge the organisers and venue to reconsider out of respect for the victims, survivors and their families."
In a statement curator Pierre d’Alancaisez from Verdurin said the event would be looking at how footage of the attacks "marked a shift in how we relate to media and "understand events."
He added: "The focus of the screening and discussion is the unwitting role of media itself in pre-empting responses, such as paranoia or conspiratorial thinking.
"What we are showing are historical documents (already available to the public) that, owing to their ongoing global influence, warrant wide engagement and scrutiny."
The screening is being staged in Bournemouth as part of the Adam Curtis Party Conference event.
Verdurin have also said members of the public will be asked to hand over their mobile phones during the event.
Organisers for The Adam Curtis Party Conference have also confirmed it is now taking place at a new location.