Secretary Chertoff Speaks at the Grand Opening of the CELL's New Exhibit

DENVER, July 17, 2012 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- Nearly one thousand people gathered on Thursday, July 12th to celebrate the grand opening of the newly redesigned exhibit at the Counterterrorism Education Learning Lab (CELL) in Denver.  The event featured the Honorable Michael Chertoff, Secretary of Homeland Security (2005 – 2009).

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"Denver is proud that the CELL has become a nationally recognized thought leader in terrorism prevention," said Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, who co-hosted the exhibit's grand opening.  "Every day, the people of Denver and Colorado are the beneficiaries of the CELL's work.  The CELL's new exhibit will continue to further educate the public on what each of us can do to help enhance our community's safety.  I encourage everyone to visit the CELL and experience this important, state-of-the-art exhibit for themselves."

The CELL exhibit is designed to educate visitors about terrorism and the evolving threats faced by societies around the world, while also empowering individuals to help prevent terrorist and criminal activity in their communities.  One of the most popular segments of the exhibit features the award-winning training video, 8 Signs of Terrorism, which gives visitors information about what to do if they witness suspicious behavior.

In his keynote speech, Secretary Chertoff focused on likely threats to the United States over the next ten years.  He also emphasized the role of individuals and organizations like the CELL in national security.  "[The CELL] is not just an exhibit that you passively absorb, but it is really part of a larger effort to educate and empower citizens so that they can be involved in protecting their own communities…Some of the most significant plots that have been discovered and disrupted by law enforcement have been a result of a tip by a private citizen, someone who saw something and spoke up."

A panel discussion moderated by Dean Singleton, chairman and publisher of The Denver Post, followed the keynote speech.  Secretary Chertoff was joined by Clifford D. May, president of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, in an informative back-and-forth about Iran's nuclear program, the Arab Spring, and U.S. energy security.

As a nonprofit, nonpartisan institution, the CELL's one-of-a-kind exhibit, renowned speaker series and nationally-recognized training initiatives provide an understanding of terrorism and how individuals can play a role in helping to prevent it.  For more information about the CELL and its new exhibit, visit www.thecell.org.

Media Contact: Katherine Goodman Counterterrorism Education Learning Lab (CELL), 303-844-4000 ext. 10, [email protected]

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SOURCE Counterterrorism Education Learning Lab (CELL)