Transcript of the event

For further information, contact: Ashley Smith 865-6830 or James M. Leas 734-8811(cell) 864-1575(home)

Professor Howard Zinn to speak in Burlington on Sunday

Is War the Answer?
Ira Allen Chapel
University of Vermont
Sunday, October 21st
2:00pm – 3:30pm

Air Force bombardier in World War II, professor emeritus at Boston University, author of A People's History of the United States, Howard Zinn will be speaking on "Is War the Answer" in Burlington on Sunday, October 21. Professor Zinn is coming to Burlington the day before to participate in honoring long-time peace activist, Dave Dellinger at a dinner in Memorial Auditorium on Saturday night. His talk on Sunday is at Ira Allen Chapel from 2pm to 3:30.

In 1965, when less than 10% of the population opposed the Vietnam War, Howard Zinn was speaking at teach-ins and demonstrations. His talks helped educate tens of thousands of students and the general public and helped build the campaign into an overwhelming mass movement that by 1968 and 1969 involved millions of people, including thousands of active duty US soldiers leading demonstrations against the war.

Howard Zinn will be available for interviews on Saturday, October 20 and on Sunday October 21. The talk at UVM's Ira Allen Chapel is open to the public and reporters. "This is a major event for the peace movement in Burlington," said Ashley Smith. Professor Zinn will provide an incisive analysis of terrorism, the war against Afghanistan, and US global policy. If you would like to arrange to interview Professor Zinn please call Ashley Smith at 865-6830.

Biographical information

Howard Zinn is professor emeritus at Boston University. He is the author of the classic A People’s History of the United States, "a brilliant and moving history of the American people from the point of view of those … whose plight has been largely omitted from most histories" (Library Journal).

A television adaptation of A People’s History of the United States is currently being co-produced by Matt Damon, the star of Good Will Hunting. Zinn recently received the Lannan Foundation Literary Award for Nonfiction and the Eugene V. Debs award for his writing and political activism. Zinn is the author of numerous books, including The Zinn Reader, the autobiographical You Can’t Be Neutral on a Moving Train, and the play Emma, published in the anthology Playbook (South End Press).

Zinn grew up in Brooklyn and worked in the shipyards before serving as an Air Force bombardier in World War II. Zinn was chair of the History Department at Spelman College, where he actively participated in the civil rights movement, before taking a position at Boston University. He now lives with his wife, Roslyn, in Massachusetts and lectures widely on history and contemporary politics.

Sponsored by: The Vermont Mobilization for Global Justice, Students and Faculty for Peace and Global Justice, ISO, SPARC