Liberia’s fourteen years of civil war from 1989 to 2003 destroyed the country’s economic and social fabric. At the grassroots level, Liberia’s women contributed to forging peace and allowing the country to begin to rebuild from the ashes of war. The documentary film Pray the Devil Back to Hell chronicles how Liberian women from different religions and ethnicities united through nonviolent resistance, taking on violent warlords, and staging a silent protest outside the Presidential Palace in a quest for peace that would alter the course of Liberia’s history. Join us for the first program of our 2011—2012 Women and Global Development Forum series, featuring a screening of the film followed by a discussion with a leader of the women’s movement for peace, Leymah Roberta Gbowee, Executive Director of Women Peace and Security Network Africa, and the film’s director, Gini Reticker.
The Chicago Council is the September benefit of the month for WBEZ members. WBEZ members can register at the door and receive the member rate of $10 for admission.