Alexander Smith’s PowerPoint presentation doesn’t appear designed to court controversy. The slides, focused on declining maternal health in Gaza, cite public health data from the United Nations and World Health Organization. His employer, the U.S. Agency for International Development, had selected him to share it at the government agency’s Global Gender Equality Conference.
But just before the conference, an issue of contention emerged.
A single slide mentioned international humanitarian law in context of the health crisis in Gaza. USAID staff cited the slide and discussion of international law as potential fodder for leaks, documents and emails Smith shared with The Intercept show. Despite Smith’s willingness to make revisions, his presentation was eventually canceled. On the last day of the conference, he found himself out of a job.
“I thought it is really obscene that misinformation can go out freely out into the world [about Gaza], but I can’t talk about the reality of starving pregnant women,” said Smith, who worked as a contracted senior adviser at USAID on gender and material health. “We can’t even whisper about that in a conference on that topic.”
According to the article, his presentation was cut from the convention, yet he attended
and presentedanyway.He was given the option of termination or resignation, and chose to resign.
I’m glad he advocated for truth, and grateful he spoke out after resignation.
It doesn’t sound like he presented to me, just that he attended to see other presentations.
Good point. I think you’re right. Reading it again, I interpreted the word “nonetheless” as against direction, but it only states that he attended the conference.