VISUAL ARTS + MUSEUMS

The Rothko Chapel is delighted to bring a distinguished roster of outstanding intellectuals, poets, musicians, and journalists to speak and perform during its 2009-2010 season of public programs. All programs are free and open to the public. The Rothko Chapel presents Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi: A Voice for Peaceful Coexistence in the Middle East.   Monday, May 3 at 7pm

Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi (pictured) is a Palestinian nationalist, a humanitarian and a physician, who is nicknamed "the Alternative." He is perceived by many Palestinians as the only viable alternative candidate and leader to both Hamas and the PLO. As a secular and democratic politician who has adamantly fought against the corruption that has engulfed the operations of the PLO in the West Bank, he has promoted a policy of non-violent resistance to the Israeli occupation and also a policy of coexistence between Arabs and Israelis.

As a pro-democracy candidate in 2005 he achieved the unthinkable, by getting almost one third of the vote against Mahmoud Abbas, who is still the leading Palestinian official. Dr. Barghouthi did all of this despite vastly limited resources and the challenge of a well entrenched and well financed opposing political establishment. Not only has he been awarded the highest recognition and honors by many countries, including France and Italy, but he has been nominated for the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize.