Harlem Museum Regrets Renting Space For 9/11 Event After Speakers Question Attacks

HARLEM, NY — El Museo del Barrio rented space for a four-day conference marking the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks that featured first responders, elected officials and relatives of victims alongside speakers who promoted theories about the attacks and other events.

The East Harlem museum rented part of its building to the International Center for 9/11 Justice for “Turning the Tide: 9/11 25 Years Later,” which ran from Sept. 10 through Sept. 13.

El Museo stated it had no involvement in organizing the conference, selecting speakers or developing its programming and was not a sponsor, partner or endorser.

Among the speakers was Bill Manning, former editor in chief of Fire Engineering magazine, who promoted the theory that the World Trade Center buildings collapsed in a controlled demolition.

Retired Lt. Col. Karen Kwiatkowski alleged that the federal government concealed information about the Sept. 11 attacks and the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Roger Waters, a founding member of Pink Floyd, also spoke at the conference and called for further examination of the attacks.

After learning more about the event's full program and speaker list, El Museo released a statement acknowledging that it had not known the full scope of the conference when it agreed to rent the space.

“El Museo del Barrio recognizes its responsibility as a steward of the public trust and deeply regrets this event,” the museum wrote in a statement shared with Hyperallergic.

The museum, which maintains a collection focused on artists of Latin American and Caribbean descent, said it is conducting a thorough review of its rental policies and procedures.