Peter Gabriel WITNESS event/Mandela

BEARING WITNESS: Human rights organization WITNESS’ co-founder (and Modern Rock pioneer) Peter Gabriel was among the attendees at the organization’s Focus for Change Benefit at NYC’s Roseland Ballroom last night; the event featured speeches by numerous activists and musical performances by K’naan, Red Baraat and Samba in New York! Gabriel took the opportunity during the evening to salute the late Nelson Mandela, whose death has inspired worldwide tributes; he noted that Mandela’s commitment to nonviolence and reconciliation resonated strongly with the mission of WITNESS to use video and other documentary tools in the service of human rights. Check out video from the event here. (12/6p)