Time is Running Out for You to Make a Difference



Join Us on April 22nd -- For many people, these are frustrating days - the Congress re-approves the invasive provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act without appropriate guidelines; the President scoffs at the law and the Constitution in defending his warrantless surveillance program and the South Dakota legislature and Governor recently adopted and approved a statute banning almost all abortions, in hopes that the Supreme Court with two new Bush appointees will strike down a series of decisions upholding a woman's right to make reproductive choices for herself without government interference. In light of these and other challenges, too many persons committed to basic constitutional values withdraw still further from the civic process - believing there is nothing they can do to make things better. Do you want to make a difference? Start your work by joining us in Champaign on April 22nd for a daylong summit focused on increasing civic participation. Titled "Defending Democracy in Our America," the ACLU of Illinois Summit gives you an opportunity to meet other ACLU members from across the state and make plans for working together to make a difference now and into the future. You can learn more about the event and register by going to http://www.aclu-il.org/conference/.



ACLU Plaintiff Shani Davis Honored by City



We have been negligent in not recognizing and celebrating the accomplishment of Chicago-born U.S. speed skater Shani Davis, who won a gold and silver medal at the recent Winter Olympic Games in Torino. Shani became the first African American athlete to win an individual gold medal at the Winter Games. Shani also is a plaintiff in a critical ACLU of Illinois case involving the unnecessary and unwarranted stops of young men of color on the streets of Chicago. You can read more about the case at http://www.aclu-il.org/news/archives/shanidavis.pdf. Interestingly enough - since Shani is suing the Chicago Police Department - the Mayor of the City of Chicago recently declared "Shani Davis Day" in Chicago. You can read about the City's celebrating Shani's accomplishments at http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/chi-0603260336mar26,1,3050001.story.



ACLU Television Program Features Illinois Man



We previously reported to you about the National ACLU's new television program titled Freedom Files that is running on Court TV. The April episode of the program focuses on Lesbian and Gay Rights, and features the story of an Illinois man who faced resistance and resentment from hospital personnel when trying to visit and make health care decisions in his partners' final days before death. It is a heart-wrenching story that demonstrates the need to protect basic rights for lesbian and gay couples in our society. You can learn more about the Freedom Files episode, viewing times and watch a trailer of the program at http://www.aclu.tv.



ACLU of Illinois Case on Pentagon Spending Goes to Appellate Court



Next Thursday, April 6th, the ACLU of Illinois goes before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit to challenge the Pentagon's extraordinary funding - of approximately $7 million - for the Boy Scout Jamboree held at Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia. The case - brought on behalf of Reverend Gene Winkler, Rabbi Gary Gerson and other plaintiffs - was filed in 1999. A district court judge previously ruled that the Pentagon's special funding for the Boy Scouts, funding not available to any other civilian group, violated the principle of government neutrality in supporting religious and secular groups. The Boy Scouts, by their own admission, are a religious organization, and require all participants to swear an oath of "duty to God" before taking part in any activities. We will report further on this case in upcoming editions.



ACLU Invites You to Attend Powerful Patriot Act Drama (and Calling All Volunteers!)



On April 13th, join the ACLU of Illinois at Silk Road Theatre Project for a Performance of Yussef El Guindi 's Back of the Throat, followed by a Talk-Back with Edwin C. Yohnka, Director of Communications, ACLU of Illinois. For discounted tickets, be sure and enter Coupon Code #ACL-005 when placing your order. This special ACLU of Illinois discount applies for the entire run of the show - April 4 - May 28, 2006. Click here to purchase tickets.



ACLU will be hosting information tables at Silk Road Theater Project's production, Back of the Throat, during select evening shows in April and May. If you are interested in helping distribute ACLU information, please email Yesenia at ysotelo@aclu-il.org. More information about the play: Two government officials pay an Arab-American man, Khalid, a seemingly innocuous visit. What begins as a "friendly" inquiry soon devolves into a chilling, full-blown investigation of Khalid's presumed ties to terrorists. At times surreal and comic, Back of the Throat examines the ways in which facts, evidence and (mis)perceptions are used to distort the truth and how notions of cultural "otherness" impact the relationship between the accusers and the accused.