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ACLU and Robert Greenwald Series Launches with Beyond the Patriot Act
[New Haven, CT] - Today, The ACLU of Connecticut and The New Haven Peace Commission announced the local premiere of The ACLU Freedom Files: Beyond the Patriot Act. This event will take place on Saturday, October 1, at 10:30 a.m. at The Ives Branch of the New Haven Public Library, located at 133 Elm Street.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and award-winning producer/director Robert Greenwald (Outfoxed, Unconstitutional) teamed up to create The ACLU Freedom Files, a new series of ten 30-minute episodes. The series explores current civil liberties issues, featuring well-known actors, comedians and activists, along with actual civil liberties litigants and the attorneys who represent them.
After Labor Day, Congressional Conferees will attempt to negotiate a compromise between conflicting Senate and House Patriot Act renewal bills, and present a final bill for signature by the President. Seven states, and nearly 400 counties and cities have passed resolutions opposing Patriot Act extension or renewal. Beyond The Patriot Act, The ACLU Freedom Files premiere episode highlights the far-reaching civil liberties implications of the Patriot Act and tells the personal stories of individuals affected by post 9/11 legislation.
“Effects of overreaching laws like the Patriot Act or Supreme Court decisions are often talked about in abstract terms, but there is a very real human face to these issues that tends to get lost in the rhetoric,” said ACLU Executive Director Anthony D. Romero. “The ACLU Freedom Files will go behind the headlines to tell their stories.”
“The critical work that the ACLU is doing is the stuff of real drama,” Robert Greenwald of Brave New Films, executive producer of the series, said: “These are regular people, people who could be a neighbor, who have found themselves fighting to defend their constitutionally-guaranteed rights. These are important and powerful stories that we need to tell.”
Roger C. Vann, ACLU-CT Executive Director, added: “We are pleased to premiere this new series at a time when all Americans will be watching Congress to learn if traditional checks and balances are restored, and the Patriot Act is brought back in line with the Constitution.”
Future episodes of The ACLU Freedom Files—covering topics from gay and lesbian rights to drug policy, women’s rights and racial profiling—will air on Link TV (satellite) beginning Sept. 8 at 8:00 pm and then monthly on the second Thursday of each month. They can also be viewed via the internet or by ordering a DVD at www.aclu.tv.
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