FBI 100: A CENTENNIAL COMMEMORATION

Birmingham - Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Carmen S. Adams joined with FBI Citizens' Academy Alumni Association (FBICAA) Chapter President, Dr. Marc Michelson, today in a "Diversity Luncheon" as part of a celebration of the FBI's Centennial Anniversary. The luncheon, which was sponsored by the FBICAA, was held at the Zamora Shrine Temple in Irondale, Alabama, and featured a sampling of food from a variety of cultures, reflecting the diversity of the FBI over the last 100 years.

The FBI has had many accomplishments - from its inception in 1908, through its acceptance of jurisdiction over interstate auto-theft beginning in 1919, through the gangster era of the 1920s and 30s, to the FBI's successes in breaking up espionage, sabotage, and propaganda attempts in the 1940s, to combating civil rights violations in the 1950s, to fighting organized crime in the 1970s through today, and to its successful efforts against public corruption, white collar crime, violent crime, and especially, today, its efforts against the scourge of terrorism. Throughout the past 100 years, the FBI has successfully adapted to meet the challenges at hand and will continue to do so through the next 100 years.

"While the FBI has gone through many changes over the past 100 years, our values will never change. As we evolve as an intelligence and investigative agency, we must always be mindful of our responsibility to uphold the rule of law while protecting civil liberties and civil rights. That is the responsibility of every FBI employee now and into the next century," noted SAC Adams.

The luncheon was attended by various local dignitaries and officials from the State of Alabama. Remarks were made by Daryl Perkins, District Director for Congressman Artur Davis. Colonel J. Christopher Murphy, Director of the Alabama Department of Public Safety, represented the office of Governor Bob Riley in the presentation of a "Commendation" to SAC Adams. Tony Petelos, Mayor of Hoover, Alabama and FBI Citizens’ Academy Alumnus, presented a similar proclamation on behalf of the Jefferson County Mayor's Association.

"The FBI's Citizens' Academy Program provides community leaders from a wide variety of backgrounds with an inside look at the FBI. The FBI wants the graduates of the program to be long term partners to support the mission of the FBI. The Alumni Association will provide that support through community service projects and educational outreach efforts,” stated Dr. Marc Michelson, President of the FBI Citizens’ Academy Alumni Association.