This Thursday we’ll be taking part in two separate events in Portland dealing with two of the most pressing civil liberties issues of 2013: government surveillance and immigration. Both events are free and open to the public, but they’re taking place concurrently so you’ll have to pick your pleasure!
Over on the campus of the University of Southern Maine, we’ll be taking part in a panel addressing “The Constitutional Dangers of Government Surveillance” from 6 to 8 PM. This presentation, arranged by Peace Action Maine, will explore the recent disclosures about government surveillance and whether or not such surveillance is constitutional. Our own Rachel Healy will explain the ACLU lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the NSA phone tracking system, and she’ll be joined by presenters from Codepink Maine, University of Lund, and the Maine Tea Party. The event takes place at Talbot Hall, with light refreshments and networking time from 6:00 to 6:30, followed by the presentations and a question and answer session.
While that event is wrapping up, we’ll be over at the Portland Public Library for a screening of the documentary “Special Flight,” which examines the plight of undocumented immigrants at a detention center in Switzerland. (Watch the trailer here.) The short film – which is featured as part of the library’s POV Summer Documentary Series – points to the contradictions between compassionate social policies and intractable immigration laws. After the screening, I’ll be leading an audience discussion about the documentary and how it speaks to our own immigration reform efforts here in the United States. The film begins at 7:30 p.m. and will take place in Meeting Room #5 at the library.
Both events are free and open to the public, with light refreshments offered at each. If you have any questions about either event, give us a call at 774-5444. We hope to see you at one of them!
July 8, 2013 - 5:20pm
