New York, September 22, 2008 ... The National Rally to Stop Iran Now brought together more than 10,000 people of all ages from throughout the New York area, the eastern seaboard and from as far as Canada to protest the Iranian threat and the appearance of President Ahmadinejad at the United Nations. Sponsored by the National Coalition to Stop Iran Now, prominent civic and religious figures of all persuasions called on the international community to take action. The demonstration, coinciding with the presence of world leaders at the U.N. General Assembly, was held on Monday, September 22nd, 2008 at in Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza across from the United Nations.

The National Coalition to Stop Iran Now includes leaders and organizations representing various communities who are deeply concerned about the Iranian threat. Among the members are the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, UJA-Federation of New York, United Jewish Communities, and Jewish Council for Public Affairs.

"Ahmadinejad will be in New York and he should see that the American people will not tolerate his threats to destroy America and Israel and to develop the nuclear weapons to do so. When Iran parades its missiles with 'Death to America' banners, its intentions are clear. When Ahmadinejad says Israel 'must be wiped from the map,' he means what he says. When thousands of Iranians are arrested – and hundreds even executed, including children – for exercising their human rights, we know that we are faced with a dangerous regime. We must end the threat of a nuclear Iran now," said Harold Tanner, Acting Chairman and Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice Chairman of the Conference of Presidents.

Janice W. Shorenstein, President and Michael Miller, Executive Vice President and CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, said, "We cannot remain silent as Iran aggressively pursues its nuclear ambitions and its president continues to threaten America and Israel. The very presence of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the UN is an affront to all who cherish human rights and seek peace."

John S. Ruskay, Executive Vice President and CEO, UJA-Federation of New York, said, "When the leader of a nation that is building a nuclear program has repeatedly called for the destruction of Israel, there is no room for silence. We want to make it clear that New Yorkers stand united with the people of Israel and show the world that we publicly protest the actions of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran as he appears before the United Nations."

"The leader of Iran calls for the destruction of Israel, denies the fact of the Holocaust, and ignores international demands to halt a nuclear program that threatens the Jewish homeland, the region, and the world," said Howard M. Rieger, President and Chief Executive Officer of United Jewish Communities. "The thousands of Americans and others joining the Jewish community on Monday sent a loud message to the United Nations and beyond that such views and policies are unacceptable and should not be tolerated by civilized and peace-loving nations and peoples."

"There are those moments when we must stand up. When Ahmadinejad, a man who cares little for truth and promises destruction, comes to your city, good people stand up and say 'no way!' We must all stand up and say, 'No way!'" said Steve Gutow, Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) Executive Director.  Andrea Weinstein, Chair of the JCPA, highlighted that "thousands of people – Jewish and non-Jewish – from around North America rallied in front of the United Nations to arouse the political will of the international community to take vigorous economic and diplomatic measures to persuade the regime in Tehran to desist from its quest for nuclear weapons. The Iranian people should not be punished, but the Iranian regime must change its course and must halt its nuclear program which is a threat to international peace."

Those who spoke to rally-goers represented a cross section of major denominational, ethnic and civic leaders, including Natan Sharansky, famed Soviet-Jewish dissident and former Israeli deputy prime minister; Irwin Cotler, former Canadian Minister of Justice; Dr. Paul deVries, New York Divinity School president; the Honorable Rev. Floyd Flake, former member of Congress; Dalia Itzik, speaker of the Israeli Knesset; and Elie Wiesel, Nobel Laureate.  Prominent international human rights advocates Nazanin Afshin-Jan and Banafsheh Zand-Bonazzi also spoke.