Obama Administration Sets February Date for Anti-Extremism Summit

President Obama wasn’t present in Paris for Sunday’s anti-terrorism rally, and his absence was duly noted.

But the White House managed to offset some of the negative feedback from that missed event by announcing the same day that a postponed summit to combat extremism, originally slated for last fall, will take place in Washington on Feb. 18.

Politico brought word on Sunday of the newly scheduled meeting:

In a statement issued as many world leaders gathered in the French capital Sunday to express solidarity with France and to vow renewed efforts to fight violent Islamic radicalism, the White House announced that its summit on the issue of homegrown terrorism will take place next month.

“On February 18, 2015, the White House will host a Summit on Countering Violent Extremism to highlight domestic and international efforts to prevent violent extremists and their supporters from radicalizing, recruiting, or inspiring individuals or groups in the United States and abroad to commit acts of violence, efforts made even more imperative in light of recent, tragic attacks in Ottawa, Sydney, and Paris,” White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said in a statement.

The summit will focus on both domestic and international efforts to curb extremist violence.

–Posted by Kasia Anderson