Citizens for a Peaceful Response, a group founded Sept. 11, is holding a teach-in to challenge racial myths, discuss alternatives to war and begin a public discussion regarding an appropriate response to the terrorist attacks on the United States.

The event will be held at 6 p.m. today at Wells Hall.

The idea for the teach-in sprung from a student discussion last Thursday.

Sasha Williams, a member of Citizens for a Peaceful Response and Lansing resident, said the group decided to hold an event in support of peaceful alternatives to war.

“We want to know what the world has to say,” she said. “Our goal is that other actions will come from this and that people will self-organize into their own interests.”

The event will start with basic background about the Arab, Arab American and Islamic communities, followed by brief presentations from a panel of professors and citizens.

A question-and-answer period will follow the presentations and those at the forum will have an opportunity for smaller group discussions.

The presenters will be addressing three issues regarding the Middle East - the present experience of Arab American communities, the importance of peace in Islam and putting the attacks in context.

One main focus of the teach-in will be to discuss various alternatives to the path of retaliation the United States has already begun to travel down.

Michael Reno, a philosophy graduate student, said he plans to attend the event because he’s concerned about the backlash against U.S. citizens.

“Answering violence with violence will only continue the cycle,” he said.

Organizers plan to use education to challenge myths surrounding people of Arab descent and also those of the Islamic faith.

They also hope today’s discussion will help to foster a nationwide discussion aimed at deciding what America should do in response to the tragedies in New York City and Washington.

Philosophy senior Kelin Emmett said she became involved in the group as a deeply concerned citizen.

“I hope that we will get more community members and students involved with this cause and what is going on,”she said. “I hope there is a fruitful discussion that will result in students, community and faculty members coming together.

“We need to think about global justice in order to even begin to ensure security for everybody. And the only way that we can end terrorism is for everyone, everywhere to feel secure.”

The teach-in is free and open to the public. Students are encouraged to bring questions and an open mind.