ACLU Hawaii Banner

ACLU Annual Meeting Invites Public to Know Their Rights
April 12, 2005

Honolulu ­ The ACLU of Hawai'i is inviting the public to attends its annual meeting April 21 which will be a briefing on legislative, legal and public education actions statewide to protect the Bill of Rights.

"Government actions at the local and national level continue to pose a threat to the fundamental freedoms of Hawai'i citizens," said annual meeting chair Kit Grant.

"Whether it be banning innocent individuals from public spaces to dumping prisoners in mainland prisons without oversight to surveillance of law-abiding citizens to uncover criminal activity, these actions affect everyone's personal freedoms. We encourage the public to join us to learn more about the Bill of Rights. The ACLU in Hawai'i has been protecting personal freedoms for 40 years," she said.

The Hawai'i affiliate has been critical of Act 50, better known as the "Squatters Law", which has resulted in innocent individuals being targeted for removal by the government from public spaces. The ACLU has also called for an independent investigation in the scandal at Brush Correctional Facility in Oklahoma where Hawai'i women inmates are being unfairly punished and denied their basic legal rights. On a national level, the ACLU has been at the forefront to ensure that the PATRIOT Act, which greatly expanded government powers immediately after 9/11, undergoes congressional review and contains checks and balances against abuse.

The ACLU has seen its membership surge since 9/11. There are now over 400,000 members nationwide compared with 275,000 before September 11. The ACLU has over 2,000 members in Hawai'i. Created nationally in 1920 in response to violations of civil liberties such as the jailing of opponents to World War I, the organization's mission is to protect the Bill of Rights through statewide legislative, litigation and public education programs. It accepts no government funds.

The event at Gordon Biersh in Aloha Tower Marketplace is from 5:30 ­ 7:00 p.m. Reservations not required unless purchasing meal which is $25 in advance and $30 at the door (heavy pupu and no host bar). Call 522-5900 or www.acluhawaii.org.

Related Information:
Navigate: