Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies: Close to 2,700 Students to Attend Freedom Day Celebration With Romeo Dallaire at Yonge-Dundas Square

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Sept. 20, 2011) - Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies will host the second annual Freedom Day event today at Yonge Dundas Square from 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. Close to 2,700 intermediate and high school students from public, Catholic and private schools across the GTA will attend the event designed to highlight the Canadian values of democracy, human rights and freedom.

The keynote speaker at Freedom Day will be L.Gen The Hon. Romeo Dallaire (Ret'd), author of "Shake Hands with the Devil" about his experiences as Commander of the UN Forces in Rwanda during the Rwandan genocide, and of "They Fight Like Soldiers, They Die Like Children" about the issue of child soldiers. He will be joined by Michel Chikwanine, who will discuss his experiences as a child soldier in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

"Friends of Simon Wiesenthal think it is vitally important for Canadian students to develop a true appreciation for the tremendous democratic freedoms we enjoy in the country," said Avi Benlolo, President and CEO of FSWC. "They must value and treasure it, and understand that the rights and freedoms they often take for granted are the very ones for which so many people in the Arab world are currently fighting and dying."

A press conference with Mr. Dallaire will be held at 11.30 a.m. in front of the stage at Yonge- Dundas square.

Click here to learn more about Freedom Day: http://friendsofsimonwiesenthal.tumblr.com/.