UN General Assembly
In 2012, United Against Nuclear Iran led protests against Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the Iranian delegation during their September visit to New York for the UN General Assembly (UNGA). UANI’s protest and advocacy activities were featured in a number of media outlets, including CNN, the Associated Press, Reuters, Inside Edition, the New York Daily News, PIX 11 News, Fox 5 News, CBS New York, Agence France Presse, and the New York Post, as well as by local television stations nationwide. Additional information about UANI's advocacy and protest activities and related media coverage can be found on the UANI Hotels Campaign page.
As in previous years, UANI broke the news about where Ahmadinejad was staying – the Warwick New York Hotel – and alerted UANI supporters, the media and the public. As a result, the Warwick Hotel and its General Manager, Drew Schlesinger, were widely condemned and exposed to negative coverage in the media and severe reputational harm.
For the second straight year, UANI relocated its headquarters to the Warwick during Ahmadinejad's visit in order to better coordinate protest activities and glean first-hand information about the whereabouts and activities of the delegation.
We are pleased to report that our activities resulted in negative publicity and damage to the Warwick’s brand and reputation. Such damage is entirely justified and appropriate. No respectable hotel or venue would willfully host the leader of a criminal regime who flouts international law by developing nuclear weapons, ruthlessly violates the human rights of his people, heads the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism and uses the UN platform to call for the elimination of Israel, cast doubt on the September 11 attacks and support a new world order to replace the United States. Moreover, no legitimate hotel would willfully subject its guests to repeated searches and pat downs, or create a situation where guests would be physically accosted in the lobby by aggressive Iranian security officers. The Warwick's greed had other significant ramifications for the public. NYPD and U.S. Secret Service were forced to provide security at the Warwick at significant U.S. taxpayer expense.
Clearly, no venue should be providing accommodation for such a leader without incurring severe reputational and financial consequences. The foregoing protest activities, in combination with UANI's unique UNGA advertising campaigns drew attention to the Warwick's inappropriate decision to host Ahmadinejad and highlighted the consensus opinion among Americans that Ahmadinejad and other Iranian regime representatives are not welcome in New York.
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In the lead up to Ahmadinejad's arrival, UANI secured commitments from New York hotels to not host Ahmadinejad as part of its annual Hotels Campaign. UANI also unveiled a billboard in Times Square, as well as a mobile billboard and bicycle billboards to be driven through Midtown Manhattan outside the Warwick Hotel.
In 2012, United Against Nuclear Iran led protests against Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the Iranian delegation during their September visit to New York for the UN General Assembly (UNGA). UANI’s protest and advocacy activities were featured in a number of media outlets, including CNN, the Associated Press, Reuters, Inside Edition, the New York Daily News, PIX 11 News, Fox 5 News, CBS New York, Agence France Presse, and the New York Post, as well as by local television stations nationwide. Additional information about UANI's advocacy and protest activities and related media coverage can be found on the UANI Hotels Campaign page.
As in previous years, UANI broke the news about where Ahmadinejad was staying – the Warwick New York Hotel – and alerted UANI supporters, the media and the public. As a result, the Warwick Hotel and its General Manager, Drew Schlesinger, were widely condemned and exposed to negative coverage in the media and severe reputational harm.
For the second straight year, UANI relocated its headquarters to the Warwick during Ahmadinejad's visit in order to better coordinate protest activities and glean first-hand information about the whereabouts and activities of the delegation.
We are pleased to report that our activities resulted in negative publicity and damage to the Warwick’s brand and reputation. Such damage is entirely justified and appropriate. No respectable hotel or venue would willfully host the leader of a criminal regime who flouts international law by developing nuclear weapons, ruthlessly violates the human rights of his people, heads the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism and uses the UN platform to call for the elimination of Israel, cast doubt on the September 11 attacks and support a new world order to replace the United States. Moreover, no legitimate hotel would willfully subject its guests to repeated searches and pat downs, or create a situation where guests would be physically accosted in the lobby by aggressive Iranian security officers. The Warwick's greed had other significant ramifications for the public. NYPD and U.S. Secret Service were forced to provide security at the Warwick at significant U.S. taxpayer expense.
Clearly, no venue should be providing accommodation for such a leader without incurring severe reputational and financial consequences. The foregoing protest activities, in combination with UANI's unique UNGA advertising campaigns drew attention to the Warwick's inappropriate decision to host Ahmadinejad and highlighted the consensus opinion among Americans that Ahmadinejad and other Iranian regime representatives are not welcome in New York.
***
In the lead up to Ahmadinejad's arrival, UANI secured commitments from New York hotels to not host Ahmadinejad as part of its annual Hotels Campaign. UANI also unveiled a billboard in Times Square, as well as a mobile billboard and bicycle billboards to be driven through Midtown Manhattan outside the Warwick Hotel.
2012 News
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UANI Warwick Demonstration Featured on CNN
United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) Communications Director Nathan Carleton was featured on CNN to discuss UANI's Warwick demonstration
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In Case You Missed It: New York Daily News Reports Warwick General Manager Drew Schlesinger's Actions to Bar Information Critical of Warwick
New York Daily News Reports Warwick General Manager Drew Schlesinger's Actions to Bar Information Critical of Warwick
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Suite – and sour! A’jad hotel rage
Activist groups are demanding that the posh Warwick hotel on Sixth Avenue refuse to host America-bashing Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad when he comes to talk at the United Nations this month.
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UPDATE 6-In New York, defiant Ahmadinejad says Israel will be 'eliminated'
NEW YORK, Sept 24 Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Monday Israel has no roots in the Middle East and would be "eliminated," ignoring a U.N. warning to avoid incendiary rhetoric ahead of the annual General Assembly session.
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Eye on Iran is a news summary from United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), a section 501(c)(3) organization. Eye on Iran is available to subscribers on a daily basis or weekly basis.