ACLU-TN Announces "Voices for Freedom" -
Fall Outreach Campaign
ACLU-TN ANNOUNCES FALL OUTREACH CAMPAIGN,
“VOICES FOR FREEDOM”
The ACLU-TN, state division of the national American Civil Liberties Union announces its fall “Voices for Freedom” activities. Designed to raise awareness of the organization, the “Voices for Freedom” campaign promotes key issues in ACLU’s mission and focuses on how the state of Tennessee has been involved in a variety of ways promoting free speech and supporting the Bill of Rights.
Throughout the fall, the Tennessee ACLU will be involved in a variety of events that focus on keeping a voice for freedom alive. Designed to raise awareness of the mission of the ACLU, these programs will focus on ACLU’s work in the courts, in the legislature and in the public forum to preserve our freedoms.
Kicking off with a presence at the TN Repertory Theater’s presentation of “Inherit The Wind” at TPAC September 11 – 26, ACLU-TN will share information with the community-at-large about the various ways ACLU works to protect and promote civil liberties.
According to ACLU-TN Executive Director Hedy Weinberg, “The Tennessee Rep’s decision to present “Inherit the Wind” is timely. Seventy-nine years ago, ACLU cooperating attorney Clarence Darrow arrived in Dayton, Tennessee to defend John Scopes, a public high school teacher arrested for violating a recently enacted state law prohibiting the teaching of evolution. This debate still rages today, as ACLU affiliates across the country battle efforts to teach "scientific" creationism (the biblical version of the earths creation) in the public school classroom.”
On September 14, ACLU-TN will participate in the national premiere of "Unconstitutional" a new film by Robert Greenwald, maker of such documentaries as “Uncensored” and “Outfoxed”. The screenings, which begin at 7:00 p.m. take place at the Belcourt Theater in Nashville (2102 Belcourt Avenue) and at the University of Tennessee College of Law (1505 W. Cumberland Avenue) in Knoxville.
Greenwald’s new film details the post-9/11 curtailment of civil liberties -- a natural fit with the national ACLU’s Safe and Free campaign. The ACLU is prominently featured in the film, including interviews with Anthony Romero. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion including members of various immigrant communities within the state, immigration lawyers, and activists who are working to protect civil liberties in the post-9-11 era.
Other upcoming events include the statewide “Celebration the Freedom to Read” with activities held in cooperation with local bookstores, a discussion on “Protest & Patriotism” with national ACLU attorney Chris Hanson, the annual “Bill of Rights Celebration” and Founding Father’s remembrance - a celebration of the 213th anniversary of the ratification of Bill of Rights.
According to Weinberg, “Our most cherished rights and freedom are threatened as never before. The purpose of ACLU-TN’s “Voices for Freedom” Campaign is to raise awareness of these assaults and mobilize folks across the state to stand up for their rights. Our long-term goals include building a broad consensus for freedom and liberty and translating the guarantees of the Bill of Rights into realities for Tennesseans.”
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Upcoming ACLU-TN Events – Fall 2004
Thursday, September 9, “Relationship Recognition: At Work, At Home and In the Community,” Nashville
ACLU-TN joins with the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), Tennessee Equality and the Vanderbilt Office for GLBT to host a town meeting on a range of issues of concern to the GLBT community. John Seigenthaler, publisher emeritus of The Tennessean and founder of The First Amendment Center, will moderate the panel discussion. Panelists include Ken Choe, staff attorney at the ACLU GLBT Project and Seth Kilbourn, National Field Director for HRC. The town meeting is free and open to the public and will be held from 7:00–8:30 p.m. at the Belcourt Theater in Nashville (2102 Belcourt Avenue).
September 11 – 26, "Inherit the Wind," Nashville
Tennessee Repertory Theatre presents "Inherit the Wind.” When biology teacher John Scopes was charged with violating a Tennessee ban on the teaching evolution, ACLU secured the services of celebrated attorney Clarence Darrow for the defense. ACLU-TN will staff a table at each performance with literature and upcoming program information. For ticket information, call Ticketmasters at 615-255-2787 or visit the webpage at www.tpac.org
Tuesday, September 14, "Unconstitutional," Nashville and Knoxville
Robert Greenwald’s new film, "Unconstitutional," details the post-9/11 curtailment of civil liberties—a natural fit with the ACLU Safe and Free campaign. The ACLU is prominently featured in the film, including interviews with ACLU Executive Director Anthony Romero. ACLU-TN has organized community-wide screenings in Nashville and Knoxville, to be followed by panel discussions. Panelists will include members of various immigrant communities, attorneys, and activists who are working to protect civil liberties in the post-9/11 era. Panelists will comment on the film and discuss their own experiences. The screenings, which begin at 7:00 p.m. take place at the Belcourt Theater in Nashville (2102 Belcourt Avenue) and at 7:00 p.m. at the University of Tennessee College of Law (1505 Cumberland Avenue) in Knoxville. For ticket information, please call (615) 320-7142 or visit www.63.134.206.153
Tuesday, September 28, “Celebrate the Freedom to Read,” Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis, and Nashville
ACLU-TN, in cooperation with local bookstores, will hold "Celebrate the Freedom to Read" events in Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis and Nashville during Banned Books Week. This year’s events will highlight books written for children and young adults that have been banned and challenged. Many notable authors in this genre—including Judy Blume, Robert Cormier, Mildred Taylor, Beverly Cleary, Madeline l'Engle, and Walter Dean Myers—have seen their books banned or challenged in schools and libraries across the country. Our events will feature readings from these banned and challenged books, and will celebrate the First Amendment and its protection of the freedom to read for even the youngest readers. All events are free and open to the public.
- Chattanooga at A Novel Idea (38 Frazier Avenue) at 6:00 p.m.
- Knoxville at Borders (202 Morell Road) at 7:00 p.m.
- Memphis at Davis-Kidd Booksellers (387 Perkins Road Extended) 6:00 p.m.
- Nashville at Davis-Kidd Booksellers (4007 Hillsboro Road) at 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 2, “Patriotism and Protest: Your Right to Dissent” Nashville
National ACLU attorney Chris Hansen will speak at ACLU-TN's Annual Membership Meeting. Chris is one of the ACLU lawyers in Acorn et al v. Philadelphia, the case challenging the "free speech protest zones" set up by Secret Service during visits by President Bush and other senior federal officials across the country. The event will be held from 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. at the Green Hills Branch of the Nashville Public Library (3701 Benham Avenue). Free and Open to the Public.
Saturday, November 6, ACLU-TN Bill of Rights Celebration, Nashville
The Bill of Rights Celebration, ACLU-TN’s annual fundraiser, celebrates the conviction and courage of civil libertarians, the guarantees of the Bill of Rights, and the work of the ACLU to ensure that in both times of tranquility and crisis our constitutional guarantees are protected. Anthony Romero, National ACLU Executive Director, will be the featured speaker at the annual Bill of Rights Celebration. The event will be held at 7 p.m. at the University Club, Vanderbilt University, Nashville. For ticket information, please call (615) 320-7142 or visit www.63.134.206.153
December 15, “THANK YOU, FOUNDING FATHERS!”
In celebration of the 213th anniversary of the ratification of Bill of Rights, ACLU-TN friends will distribute Bill of Rights bookmarks on street corners and steps of courthouse to raise awareness of our constitutional guarantees.
