The Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) Traveling Exhibit held its Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on June 23rd at the Mini Social event space in Old Town Scottsdale, Arizona. The event featured local businessman Jimmy Alauria as Master of Ceremonies, who introduced CCHR's mission to protect human rights in mental health. Special guest speaker Judy Renfro, a member of JustServe, shared her experiences helping community members cope with addiction, recounting tragic stories of individuals who lost everything to drugs.
Ms. Renfro emphasized the responsibility that comes with societal trust in medical professionals, stating, "When prescribing medications that can alter behavior, create dependency, impair judgment, or affect cognitive function, careful consideration must be given not only to the intended benefits but also to the long-term consequences for the individual, their family, and the broader community." After her remarks, the ribbon was cut, opening the exhibit for tours of graphic panels and documentaries exposing the history of false science and abuses in the psychiatric industry.
Guests expressed surprise at the historical origins of psychiatry and the extent of documented abuses. The exhibit, which has now moved to its next destination, aims to warn parents and community members that psychiatric treatments can be dangerous. CCHR's traveling exhibits are part of a global network of 14 identical exhibits in countries worldwide.
For more information, visit the CCHR website, or watch documentaries on the work of CCHR volunteers around the world and the film Psychiatry: An Industry of Death on the Scientology Network. The Citizens Commission on Human Rights was co-founded in 1969 by professor of psychiatry Dr. Thomas Szasz and the Church of Scientology, and its commissioners include physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, lawyers, legislators, government officials, educators, and civil rights representatives.
