International Freedom Center
| Company type | Nonprofit organization |
|---|---|
| Industry | Museum / Cultural institution (proposed) |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Fate | Project cancelled in 2005 |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Key people | Tom Bernstein, Peter Kunhardt, Richard Tofel, George Soros, Anthony Romero, Eric Foner |
The International Freedom Center (IFC) was envisioned as a museum to be located next to the World Trade Center site in New York City, designed as a "cultural space" adjacent to the Reflecting Absence memorial honoring those lost on 9/11. Chosen in 2004, the IFC’s mission was to foster awareness of international freedom through exhibits that explored numerous genocides and crimes against humanity, including those related to Native American history and the American slave trade.
However, opposition emerged from relatives of 9/11 victims and others who felt the IFC’s purpose was unsuitable for a location regarded as hallowed ground. Detractors contended that associating global historical atrocities with Ground Zero detracted from the specific remembrance of the terrorist attacks. On September 28, 2005, New York Governor George E. Pataki prohibited the IFC from being established at the World Trade Center site. Within an hour of this announcement, IFC leaders Tom Bernstein, Peter Kunhardt, and Richard Tofel declared the center would close, citing the absence of any feasible alternative venue.
Among the IFC’s notable advocates were George Soros, Tom Bernstein, Anthony Romero, and Eric Foner. Despite this support, numerous families of victims and first responders criticized the center for diluting the focus on 9/11 by introducing broader political themes. The nonprofit organization Take Back The Memorial, founded by blogger Robert Shurbet alongside family member Debra Burlingame, actively opposed efforts to connect 9/11 with political activism or other historical narratives.
Journalist and 9/11 survivor Jeff Jarvis recognized the IFC’s intention to link September 11 with freedom but argued that the attack itself was not about liberation; rather, it represented a clash between civilization and extremist ideologies. He recommended that conversations about terrorism and fanaticism be held in settings other than Ground Zero.
The New York Times editorial board supported the IFC and associated cultural initiatives, dismissing complaints about space usage as superficial concerns. It emphasized that confronting Ground Zero’s history head-on would provide genuine emotional resonance. The Times further identified opposition as driven by political purity debates over how 9/11 should be commemorated, criticizing attempts to exclude contentious discussions or exhibits placing the attacks within a wider historical framework as contrary to American values.
Political opposition
Many New York State elected officials either opposed or offered conditional support for the IFC. On September 23, 2005, Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton announced she could not endorse the IFC due to concerns expressed by family members and first responders. She stressed that progress depended on resolving these issues through the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC). Clinton’s stance came after the IFC unveiled a plan to solidify its presence at the site, which was met with immediate resistance from relatives of victims. Her spokesperson confirmed she would not support any proposal lacking their approval.
Republican Representatives John Sweeney (Saratoga), Peter King (Long Island), and Vito Fossella (Staten Island) condemned the IFC as a "blame America first" project. Meanwhile, Senator Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) expressed reservations but sought a middle ground, urging the LMDC to honor both families’ concerns and the freedom of those commemorated.
Former Governor George Pataki, who held significant influence over LMDC decisions, opposed any initiative perceived as promoting anti-American sentiments. On September 28, 2005, he officially banned the IFC from occupying space at the World Trade Center site. Given this ruling and scarce alternative options, prospects for relocating or completing the IFC elsewhere are negligible, effectively terminating the endeavor.
See also
- Freedom Tower
- National September 11 Memorial & Museum, home to the Reflecting Absence design
- Flight 93 National Memorial located in Shanksville, Pennsylvania
- Pentagon Memorial
- Tribute in Light, a temporary and recurring installation at the WTC site
- 9/11 Memorial (Arizona)
Further reading
- Debra Burlingame's Wall Street Journal editorial opposing the IFC, June 8, 2005
- Richard Tofel's Wall Street Journal editorial supporting the IFC, June 9, 2005
- "Westchester Housewife," a WSJ article covering Debra Burlingame and the IFC debate, October 1, 2005
- Article from "The Nation" on the cancellation of the International Freedom Center, September 8, 2005
- Jeff Jarvis' piece titled "Do Not Build It—Not Here"
- New York Post editorial endorsing Senator Clinton's opposition to the IFC, September 14, 2005
- Take Back The Memorial