The Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) Traveling Exhibit held its Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Tuesday, June 23rd, at the Mini Social event space in Old Town Scottsdale, Arizona. The event, which drew community members and officials, aimed to expose the history of false science and abuses in the psychiatric industry.
Local businessman Jimmy Alauria served as Master of Ceremonies, introducing CCHR's mission to protect human rights in mental health. Special guest speaker Judy Renfro, a member of JustServe, a global volunteerism movement of the LDS Church, shared her experiences helping individuals cope with addiction. She recounted tragic stories of people who lost everything to drugs and emphasized the responsibility of medical professionals when prescribing medications that can alter behavior or create dependency.
After the ribbon cutting, guests toured graphic panels and watched documentaries revealing the long history of psychiatric abuses. Many visitors expressed surprise at the origins of psychiatry, noting that while they had heard stories of abuse, seeing the evidence in the exhibit made the truth undeniable. The exhibit was open to the public during its stay in Phoenix, drawing significant interest.
The CCHR exhibit now travels to its next destination as part of a grand tour of major U.S. cities. It issues a warning to parents and community members that psychiatric treatments can kill. There are 14 identical traveling exhibits in countries worldwide. For more information, visit the CCHR website, watch documentaries on the work of CCHR volunteers, or view 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. CCHR Commissioners include physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, lawyers, legislators, government officials, educators, and civil rights representatives. The organization is inspired by author and humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard's commitment to abolishing physically damaging practices in mental health.
