The Enemy Within: Terror in America – 1776 to Today, the only museum exhibition to provide historical perspective on acts of terror that have taken place on American soil. The Enemy Within will be open to the public until February 6, 2011. at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.
The Enemy Within, an International Spy Museum exhibition, reveals nine major events and periods in U.S. History when Americans were threatened by enemies within its borders: depicting how the government and public responded, illustrating the corresponding evolution of the U.S. counterintelligence and homeland security efforts, and examining the challenge of securing the nation without compromising the civil liberties upon which it was founded.
“Most Americans remember exactly where they were when they learned about the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 – and regard this event as a turning point that forever changed their sense of security in the United States,” states International Spy Museum Chairman of the Board and Founder, Milton Maltz. “The fact is however, that Americans have endured thousands of incidents of terror, violence, or subversion right here at home by domestic terrorists and foreign agents, militant radicals and saboteurs, traitors and spies.”
The exhibition features dramatic moments in U.S. History – all frightening, and destabilizing events – that represent times when Americans have felt threatened within their own borders. Each event precipitated legislation and/or new counterintelligence measures and provoked debate about protecting both citizens and civil liberties.
“Terrorism in whatever form is an assault on freedom,” said Freedom Center President and CEO, Donald Murphy. “As this exhibition dramatically demonstrates, our freedoms have been challenged internally by terrorists since our founding, and it is a reflection of the strength of our democracy that we have not succumbed to the terrorist’s agenda.”
About the Freedom Center
The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center uses exhibits, programs and activities to educate and inspire contemporary audiences about the legacy of courage and multicultural cooperation as embodied in the story of the Underground Railroad, and to make that history relevant to issues confronting society today.
Additional information is available at www.freedomcenter.org