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Home » E-newsletter » Archives » May 14, 2004
May 14, 2004 ACLU of Illinois E-News 05.14.04 ACLU of Illinois to Host Panel Discussion on Same Sex Marriage As a result of a decision by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will begin issuing marriage licenses for same-sex couples on Monday, May 17th. This progressive step in Massachusetts and the issuing of hundreds of marriage licenses to hundreds of same sex couples in San Francisco initiated a loud debate around the nation about who gets the benefits of marriage in our society, and whether government should discriminate in providing the benefits of marriage across our nation. On June 3, 2004, the ACLU of Illinois will host a panel discussion on this critical issue. Titled Blocking the Way to the Altar, the panel will feature a thoughtful and dynamic discussion on the legal, political and social issues involved in efforts to assure marriage equality in Illinois and across the nation. The panel will take place at the Chicago Historical Society -- located on Clark Street at North Avenue, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Panel members will include a member of Congress -- Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. has been invited - State Representative Larry McKeon, John Knight, Director of the ACLU of Illinois GLBT/HIV Rights Project and Patricia Logue, Senior Counsel at Lambda Legal in Chicago. One other panelist may be added. The program is free and open to the public. We do ask that you make reservations. Hold your spot today by calling Sylvia Adams at (312) 201-9740, ext. 329 or by email at sadams@aclu-il.org. Federal Judge Tells Chicago Public Schools to Meet Deadlines in Modified Desegregation Consent Decree For more than twenty years, the ACLU of Illinois and other civil rights organizations have helped to monitor a consent decree between the U.S. Department of Justice and the Chicago Public School system calling for the desegregation of the school system. In March, a federal judge approve modifications to that decree, with an eye toward eliminating the court oversight entirely at the end of the 2005-2006 school year. Concerns about the modified decree were heightened this week when the Department of Justice filed a motion before Judge Charles Kocoras noting that the CPS already had missed several deadlines under the modified agreement. On Thursday, May 13th, Judge Kocoras responded forcefully to the CPS argument that they viewed the deadlines as being the time necessary for submitting drafts. Judge Kocoras rejected that view. Moreover, the judge responded favorably to concerns raised by ACLU of Illinois Legal Director Harvey Grossman who noted that new documents being prepared by the school system under the modified decree had not been shared with the concerned civil rights groups or the public. Judge Kocoras told CPS to make the documents available. To read more about the latest developments in this matter click http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-0405140181may14,1,2066039.story. ACLU of Illinois to Cosponsor Event Marking 50th Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education Mark your calendars today! The ACLU of Illinois is joining with the Chicago Historical Society and Catalyst Chicago to sponsor a program marking the 50th anniversary of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision. The program is scheduled for Monday, May 17th at 7:00 p.m. at the Chicago Historical Society located at Clark Street and North Avenue in Chicago. The evening is designed to spark thinking and discussion about the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court decision, what it meant for communities at that time, what it means to the Chicago community today and what work remains to be completed to make the goal of equality in education a reality for all Americans. ACLU of Illinois Legal Director Harvey Grossman will deliver a keynote address, titled "Original Intent and Limitation of the Promise." A panel discussion and audience participation will follow. Everyone is welcome to attend. ACLU Speaks Out on Prisoner Abuse Scandal While many public officials and commentators have spoken out in "surprise" and "disgust" about the photographs of abuse that have emerged from the Abu Ghraib, the leaders of the National ACLU sent a letter to President Bush this week noting that the abuses were a "predictable result" of the Administration's detention policies. The letter also urged the President to immediately comply with a seven month-old Freedom of Information Act request about the reported torture of individuals held in the war on terrorism. To read the full letter click http://www.aclu.org/SafeandFree/SafeandFree.cfm?ID=15677&c=206. |
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