ACLU BLOG ROLL - ACLU of Michigan

“When I came to this country,
I had this idea of freedom that
America represented. But when
the Patriot Act passed both houses
in Congress within 24 hours, I felt
anxiety and fear.” – Ismael Basha
RIGHTS
REVIEW
Get the whole story on page 2
2
WINTER 2010
It’s not a
crime to be
homeless.
3
4
Defending
liberty for
years to come
ACLU BLOG ROLL
If you haven’t already, it’s time
to check out the ACLU of Michigan’s
blog and learn more about how we
are protecting your rights. Go to
www.aclumich.org/blog and hear from
our staff, clients and cooperating attorneys on the issues that affect you.
Here’s a sample of what you’ve missed.
After a judge affirmed the right
of the First Baptist Church in
Ferndale to house the South
Oakland Shelter, Rev. Cathi Feldpausch
wrote: “So often the ACLU comes under
fire, but I for one want to say how much
we have appreciated their support. It
has been wonderful to feel as though
someone really understands that this
is what the church universal is called
to do – feed the hungry and cloth the
naked – and then is willing to stand with
the church to see that justice is done.
What a Christmas gift this has been for
me and for our church.”
Following oral arguments in our
case defending affirmative action, legal fellow Avani Bhatt
reflected: “I was – like many other Michigan graduates – incredibly disappointed
when Michigan voters passed Prop 2,
amending our state constitution to ban
affirmative action. The vote against affirmative action signified a vote against
opportunity and a fundamental misunderstanding of how affirmative action works. More importantly though, it
amended our state constitution to discriminate against people of color. That
is why we sued.”
In reaction to the Lansing mayor’s announcement to ask for
an investigation into the release
of the HIV status of a man arrested in
a sex-sting operation, Jay Kaplan, ACLU
of Michigan LGBT Project staff attorney
wrote: “Lansing’s decision to deploy undercover police officers pretending to
be gay in an effort to encourage men
to engage in illegal behavior in the park
should raise some eyebrows as well. The
fact is that indecent exposure and sex
in public are illegal. However, there are
more effective ways for police to deal
with this problem if, in fact, it does exist. Police departments can deploy uniformed officers to patrol the parks and
post signs indicating that parks are being patrolled to deter individuals from
engaging in these activities.”
An American
Journey:
Celebrating
50 Years of the
ACLU in Michigan
A rich history
of grassroots
activism
in
Michigan
6
Fired for
being
pregnant?
Not any
more.
7
SCHOOL MUST ALLOW SERVICE DOG
TO ACCOMPANY KINDERGARTNER
WITH CEREBRAL PALSY
Ehlena Fry is a bright kindergartner at Ezra Eby Elementary
School in Napoleon. Because of her spastic quadriplegic cerebral
palsy, a severe form of cerebral palsy that affects her legs, arms
and body, Ehlena needs assistance with many of her daily tasks.
In October 2009, Ehlena found the answer to her independence in Wonder, a specially trained, certified mobility assistance dog, who can help her retrieve items she drops, balance,
open and close doors, and turn on lights. However, after spending the time and money training Wonder, her school rejected her
parent’s request to have Wonder accompany her to class.
After seeing media reports about Ehlena, the American Civil
Liberties Union of Michigan got involved and wrote a letter to the
Napoleon Community Schools urging them to respect her right
to bring her doctor-prescribed service dog to school. In its letter,
the ACLU warned that the district’s actions violate the Americans
with Disabilities Act. It’s not clear whether the district will change
its position, but the ACLU is ready to take action if it doesn’t.
According to the ACLU’s letter, prior to registering Ehlena
for school, the Frys advised the school of their decision to purchase a service dog. At no point did the school district suggest
that Wonder would not be allowed. Nonetheless, in January, the
district rejected the Frys’ request to bring Wonder to school in a
specially convened Individualized Education Plan meeting.
“Denying Ehlena the right to have her service dog affects
our whole family and the community that helped us raise the
money for Wonder,” said Stacy Fry, Ehlena’s mother. “In the
short time that we have had Wonder we have seen her grow
more self-reliant. The smile on her face when she is able to do
things on her own without my help is priceless and the more
she is able to work with Wonder and command him, the more
confident and independent she becomes. Separating them consistently for several hours a day could prove disastrous for Won-
SETTLEMENT REACHED IN
UNCONSTITUTIONAL STRIP
AND CAVITY SEARCH
Agreement Includes New
Policies, Police Training and
$900,000 Payment
When 117 young men and women
walked into Club What’s Next in Flint on
a Spring night in 2005, they had no idea
that their lives would be forever changed.
der’s training and bonding.”
In its 4-page letter, the ACLU explained that the Americans with Disabilities Act provides that public institutions, such as schools, must make
reasonable modifications to their policies and practices to avoid discrimination on the basis of disability including allowing the use of a service
animals on school property.
Since October, Wonder has been accompanying Ehlena to Sunday
school, Girls Scout Daisy meetings, and other school and community
functions without complaint and without distracting other participants.
Wonder is hypo-allergenic and has been trained to get out of the way
when he is not working.
Shortly before 2 a.m., a team of officers
from the Flint Area Narcotics Group stormed
the licensed nightclub and detained, strip
searched, and, in some cases, body cavity
searched and charged everyone in the club
with the crime of “frequenting a drug house”
simply because they were present at the
club. The raid was conducted after undercover officers bought drugs from a few individuals at the club; however the vast majority of
the club patrons were not involved in any illegal activity.
The American Civil Liberties Union of
Michigan came to the defense of the young
men and women, and in December, a settlement was reached in the
ACLU’s class action lawsuit
against the City of Flint and
Genesee County. Under the
agreement, the police department has agreed to institute
new policies and training
to prevent unconstitutional
searches and arrests from
happening again. Flint and
Genesee County also agreed
to pay the victims of the unconstitutional searches and
arrests a total of $900,000.
Thompson was strip
searched, cavity searched,
and unlawfully arrested. “I
became a part of this lawsuit
not only to have my voice
heard, but also to help make
sure that this doesn’t hap-
V I S I T U S O N L I N E AT W W W. AC L U M I C H . O R G
pen again,” said Jennifer Thompson. “We’ve
been waiting for this moment for a long time
and my only wish today is that the lessons
learned here will go beyond the City of Flint.”
During the raid, the dance club patrons were handcuffed and divided into two
groups, females and males. Women were taken into a bathroom and searched by police
officers, at times in the presence of others.
Some were told to lift their shirts and bras in
view of male officers. An officer commented
to one woman about the size of her breasts
and asked if they were “real.”
Most of the men were taken into a men’s
bathroom and told to raise their shirts, drop
their pants and underwear, and to bend over
and cough. Some were told to put a finger
into their anus. Those who were still handcuffed had their pants and underwear pulled
down to around their knees by police officers. One man was stripped on the side of
the road after he had left the club.
“This has been a long journey for the
innocent young people who have dealt with
the emotional and physical toll of being strip
searched and cavity searched by the very
individuals who have taken an oath to serve
and protect them,” said Michael L. Pitt, ACLU
of Michigan cooperating attorney whose law
firm Pitt McGehee Palmer Rivers & Golden
led the effort on behalf of the ACLU. “We
are confident that this settlement will send
a strong message to all law enforcement in
Michigan – police abuse comes at a cost; it is
illegal and must not be tolerated.”
1
BASHA BROTHERS FIGHT FOR
LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL
ACLU founder Roger Baldwin once said, “No fight for
liberty ever stays won.” Dr. Yahya Basha and his brother Ismael Basha understand this principle all too well. The brothers became supporters of the ACLU of Michigan following
the tragic events of 9/1 1 because they understood the important role the ACLU plays in protecting democracy during
challenging times.
“ACLU is the guard for American values, ensuring our
liberties and protecting all people,” said Yahya. “No other
organization does this as well as the ACLU.”
Yahya and Ismael were born in Hama, Syria in a family
of eleven children. In 1972, Yahya was the first member of
his family to immigrate to the United States. He arrived with
an M.D. from the University of Damascus Medical School,
and in the U.S. his medical and business careers flourished.
He is president of Basha Diagnostics, a multi-site diagnostic
imaging company in Southeastern Michigan. Yahya helped
several of his siblings immigrate to the U.S., including his
brother Ismael, who came in 1983. Ismael is the founder and
owner of TSS Inc., which manufactures car wash fixtures.
“I know how it feels to be living in tyranny stripped
from basic rights as a human being,” Ismael explained. “Democracy, human rights, and equality are humanity’s greatest achievements and ought to be guarded by all of us and
shouldn’t be taken for granted. When I came to this country,
I had this idea of freedom that America represented. But
when the Patriot Act passed both houses in Congress within
24 hours, I felt anxiety and fear.”
It is this passion for fairness and human rights that
make the Bashas involvement in the ACLU vital. Yahya and
Ismael are not just mere supporters of the ACLU; they are
goodwill ambassadors who sit on many boards and committees for the organization. Through their many roles in the
WAYS TO GIVE : IT’S NOT TOO LATE
TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
For many people philanthropy has become the most
practical way to make long-term changes in America. The
ACLU of Michigan – with its deserved reputation as the leading civil rights organization in Michigan – is an incredible
resource that contributes significantly to our well-being as
Americans. You personally make a difference, your support
of ACLU is vital to the organization’s long-term stability.
Your memberships and contributions fund ACLU’s legal,
legislative and education programs. As you think about how
ACLU fits into your 2010 plans, please consider the following gift vehicles:
is the former chairman of the American Muslim Council; he
went to Europe in 2007 as a “citizen diplomat” for the U.S.
State Department to discuss and debate immigration and integration and to provide a bridge between the Muslim world
and the United States. Yahya also sits on the boards of the
Arab American Institute, American Arab Anti-Discrimination
Committee and Arab American Chamber of Commerce. Ismael is an active board member of the Muslim Unity Center.
For more information on how to get involved with the
ACLU, or to make a contribution, please contact Mia Axon at
(313) 578-6815 or [email protected].
gal, outreach, and education programs and come
with a charitable income tax deduction.
Retirement Plan (IRA), Keogh plan, 401(k), 403(b), or
other qualified pension plan. You may name ACLU as
beneficiary for part or all of what remains in your retirement account.
Ismael (left) and Dr. Yahya Basha
Gifts of stocks and bonds can cost you less than an
equal gift of cash. When you give long-term appreciated securities, not only do you receive an income
tax deduction equal to the market value of the securities, but you also avoid capital gains taxes on the
transfer. A gift of stock that you have owned for a
numbers of years can be particularly tax-wise.
Life income gifts allow you to transfer assets over
to the ACLU now and yet continue to receive the income from the cash, stock, or other property contributed.
eBay contributions enable you to donate to the ACLU
in two ways: by checking the box marked “this money goes to ACLU-MI” or by using Pay Pal and directing either the full amount or a percentage of a sale
to the ACLU of Michigan.
Matching gifts take advantage of programs offered by
many employers and can leverage your gift to a higher
level.
Membership upgrades are a wonderful way to increase your support of the ACLU and fund our legislative work.
Through your Will, the ACLU can be listed as a direct
beneficiary of specific assets, of a portion of your
estate, or of your residual estate after payment of
other bequests. Bequests to ACLU can offer substantial estate tax savings.
ACLU Fund contributions above and beyond your
annual membership provide vital funding to our le-
Retirement plans are wonderful gift vehicles. You
may name ACLU as a beneficiary of your Individual
A LEGACY OF
LIBERTY
2
ACLU as well as various national and local organizations,
Yahya and Ismael have dedicated themselves to fighting
discrimination of Muslims and Arab-Americans while promoting the causes of dignity and equality of all people.
“To take democracy for granted is very, very dangerous,” said Ismael. “I value my liberty and want to extend my
liberties to others.”
As a way to combat these injustices, the brothers encourage Arab Americans and Muslims to get more involved
with the ACLU of Michigan.
“ACLU was one of the few organizations that stood
up during a time when others were silent,” Yahya added.
“There is no clash between religious beliefs and ACLU’s
stance because the ACLU protects an individual’s right to
live the life that is suitable to
them. Those who can participate, should participate.”
A respected expert and
advisor for the Muslim community, Yahya has been a
board member, advisor, contributor and representative of
numerous cultural, religious,
professional and political organizations. He was appointed
by Governor John Engler to
the 1999-2003 Michigan Civil
Rights Commission. He was
named to the Council of Presidents for the United States
Conference of Religions for
Peace and board member of
the World Elijah Interfaith
Academy, based in Jerusalem.
Yahya is the founder of the
Muslim American Coalition and
Thank you for your ongoing support. For more information about making a planned gift or for questions about
making any type of contribution to the ACLU, please contact Mia Axon, Director of Development, at (313) 578-6815
or [email protected].
We recognize the members of the DeSilver Society whose bequests and other planned gifts will keep the ACLU a strong and capable
defender of liberty for years to come. For questions regarding planned gifts or the DeSilver Society please contact Mia Axon at 313.578.6815.
Michael and Suzan Alexander
Paula Allred and Richard Mehl
C.R. Andree
Jean Andrews
Robert Andrews
Peter and Glenna Armstrong
Lyndon and Betty Babcock
June Baker Carr
Judith Baran
Victoria Barclay
Sandra Bartky
Algird Barvicks
Daniel Baumhardt
William Beachler
Penny Beardslee
Walter Bergman
Sidney and Kathleen Berkowitz
Norman and Nancy Berkowitz
Edna Bick and John Helsom
Ron Bishop
Art and Betty Blair
Jeffrey Bloomer
Ron Blum
Paul Boatin
John Boaz
Henry and Barbara Bodzin
William Booker
Gary Bouwkamp and
Dorothy Sheets
Paul Breyer
William Byrnes
Jay Carr
Gerald Carter
Norma and Rexford Clark
Thomas Clinton
Angelos and Katherine
Constantinides
Marjory Cooper
Janet Cooper
Candace Crowley
May and Morris Davidson
Gilbert and Patricia Davis
William and Kathleen Davis
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Wingett
Joachim Doehler
Judith Donnelly and Mehmet Tulu
Moira Donnelly
John and Carol Ducat
William Easton
Elaine Ethridge
Kurt Falk
Marcia and Gene Feingold
Alice Felton
Gunther Fonken and Anges
Hughes
Harold Ford
Helen Francis
Dion and Marissa Frischer
John Fritz
Beverley and Gerson Geltner
Carol Glass
Martin Gold
Salvador Gonzales
Priscilla Greenberg
Audrey and Leonard Grossman
Christopher Hamilton
James Hansen
Marilee and James Harrison
Bill Hayden
J. Theodore Hefley
Jean Holtzman
Mary Hurd
Leslie Johnston
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Rosa Kaplan
Elizabeth W. Kaufman
Joanne Kelly Crossland
William Kirby
Jeanne Korsh
Gary Kuehnle
Ashlyn Kuersten
Norris and Nancy Lee
Micki Levin and John Grenke
Leon Levitt
Steven Lukacs
Carolyn MacAdam
Raymond Makowski
Dolores Mazurek
Trisha Mead
Helen Metzner
Michael Miller
David Moran and Kris Olsson
Elizabeth and William Norris
Horatio Parmalee
Lucile Patrick
Russell and Carrie Peebles
Laura Perreault
A. Scott Petersen
Bob Pettapiece
Edith Phillips
Irene Piccone
Mardy Polaner
Mary Pollock
Nelson Prins
Jeanne Raisler
Mary Rave
William Rittenberg
James Rodbard and Mary Root
William Root
Judith Rose
Frank Ross
V I S I T U S O N L I N E AT W W W. AC L U M I C H . O R G
Haskell Rothstein
Helen Rutledge
Elizabeth Schrauder
Paul Sears
Claudia and Martin Seldon
Florence Shaber
Robert Shecter
Eileen and Martin Shedleski
Dorothy Sheets
Maggie and Paul Simon
Coral Sist
Carol Slater
Donald Smith
Sheldon and Rita Stark
Bruce and Christy Chuang Stein
Daniel and Elayne Steinhardt
Martha Tholman
George Thornton, Esq.
Donald Thurber
Susan Titus
David Uozumi
Edgar Vaughan
Jacquelin Washington
Sanford Waxer
Aron Weiner
Elizabeth Wentworth
Susan Whittenmore
Michael and Gail Whitty
Thomas Wieder and Susan
Schooner
Kenneth Winter
Diane Worden
Joanne Wright
Carole Youngblood and Amos
Williams
Linda Ziesmer
IN THE COURTS
Appeals Court Throws Out Artist’s
Conviction for Michelangelo Mural
In this summary of legal updates and highlights,
you will see a mix of clients — ranging from a
church that seeks to serve the poor to prisoners in the Saginaw and Eaton County Jails.
Despite their differences, all of our clients have
two things in common: (1) they are victims of
government overreach, and (2) the ACLU has
stepped forward to vindicate their rights.
Denial of Medical Treatment In The
Eaton County Jail
David Bogle, who has Crohn’s Disease, was convicted of
a misdemeanor and sentenced to the Eaton County Jail.
Although he brought his doctor’s notes about the need
for narcotic prescriptions to treat the excruciating pain
caused by the disease, the jail told him it had an absolute
no-narcotic prescription drug policy. The jail also records
confidential phone calls between him and his attorney. In
November, the ACLU filed a lawsuit challenging both policies. Bogle v. Raines; Cooperating Attorneys Daniel Manville and Patricia Selby.
Naked Detention In The Saginaw
County Jail
Multiple lawsuits challenging a Saginaw County Jail policy
of stripping inmates and placing them in a cell naked were
resolved in September. Altogether, the county paid more
than $1.5 million in verdicts, settlements and fees for callously disregarding the basic human dignity of individuals
awaiting trial. From 1999 until a judge ordered Saginaw
County to stop in 2005, jail personnel forced detainees
to remove their clothes and enter a cell called “the hole”
where they could be viewed naked by jail personnel and inmates of the opposite sex. If the prisoner declined to strip
on her or his own, guards forcibly removed the clothing,
often by spraying chemicals in their faces, forcing them on
the ground and cutting off their clothing. Rose v. Saginaw
County Jail, Brabant v. Saginaw County Jail, Whittum v.
Saginaw County Jail, and Abner v. Saginaw County Jail; Attorneys Michael Pitt, Peggy Goldberg Pitt, Stephen Wasinger, Christopher Pianto and
Loyst Fletcher, Jr.
Ferndale Church
Has Right To Help
Poor People
The ACLU successfully represented the First Baptist
Church of Ferndale in its
quest to fulfill its religious
mission of serving the
poor. Initially, we wrote a
letter to the Zoning Board
of Appeals explaining that
the board must permit the
church to provide services
to homeless at the church
in order to avoid violating the federal Religious Land Use
and Institutionalized Persons Act. After the permit was
granted and certain neighbors sued the zoning board,
the ACLU filed a friend-of-the-court brief on behalf of the
church. In December, the court ruled in favor of the church.
Ashmore v. City of Ferndale; Cooperating Attorney Marshall
Widick and Staff Attorney Dan Korobkin.
Detroit Schools Sued Yet Again For Illegal
Mass Searches
Edward Stross is a Roseville artist who painted a mural on the
outside wall of his studio that included a depiction of Michelangelo’s “Creation of Man” from the Sistine Chapel. Because
one of Eve’s bare breasts appeared in the mural, the City of
Roseville charged and convicted Stross of violating a variance provision that prohibited “genitalia.” After a judge sentenced Edward to 30 days in jail, the ACLU appealed on free
speech grounds and secured his release during the appeal. In
November, following appeals to the Michigan Supreme Court
and back, the Michigan Court of Appeals finally threw out
Edward’s conviction for the simple reason that breasts don’t
meet the definition of “genitalia.” City of Roseville v. Stross;
Cooperating Attorneys Mark Kriger and Carl Marlinga.
Illegal Home Entries And
Searches In Leelanau County
In October, the ACLU sent a letter to the
Leelanau County Sheriff demanding that
he put an end to the practice of police officers entering homes without warrants and
forcing college-age students to submit to
breathalyzer tests. We wrote the letter in
response to several complaints about police abuse, including one instance where the
police barged into the bedroom of a young
woman at 3:30 a.m., woke her up and made
her take a breath test. Within a few weeks,
the Sheriff met with an ACLU lawyer, ackowledged the problem, disciplined two officers and, at the ACLU’s request, held a
training for deputies about illegal searches.
Cooperating Attorney Steven Morse.
Terminally Ill Medical Marijuana Patient
Fights Eviction
Lori Montroy is a 49-year-old Elk Rapids mother with advanced terminal brain cancer. In order to treat the excruciating pain, depression and nausea caused by the cancer, Lori’s
doctor recommended medical marijuana as allowed by the
Michigan Medical Marijuana Act. Based on this recommendation, the State of Michigan issued her a medical marijuana
card, allowing her to grow a limited number of plants for personal use. However, when her public housing landlord learned
of the plants, he issued an eviction notice shortly before
Christmas. The ACLU wrote a letter explaining that as long as
tenants like Lori comply with the state medical marijuana law,
public housing landlords are not required to evict. The landlord is currently reconsidering the decision and Lori is still
living in her apartment. ACLU Staff Attorney Dan Korobkin.
More Medical Marijuana Cases
In 2006, a federal judge issued an order barring Detroit
Public Schools from conducting mass searches of their
students without reasonable suspicion. Despite this court
order, we’ve learned that the school has resumed its illegal
searches. In December the ACLU filed both a motion to hold
the Detroit Public Schools in contempt and a class action
lawsuit to vindicate the students’ privacy rights. Wells and
McBurrows v. Detroit Public Schools; Cooperating Attorney
Amos Williams and Staff Attorneys Mark Fancher and Dan
Korobkin.
It’s Not A Crime To Be Homeless
Caleb Poirier is a homeless man
in Ann Arbor who lives on public
property near the highway with
other homeless people. Caleb was
arrested during a police sweep of
the area and charged with trespassing. The ACLU filed a friendof-the-court brief arguing that
it is unconstitutional to arrest
a person for sleeping on public
land when there is no place else
for him to sleep. Soon after the
brief was filed, the prosecutor
dismissed the criminal charges.
People v. Poirier; ACLU Staff Attorney Jessie Rossman.
tion, Michigan law still required him to register as a sex
offender which interfered with his ability to get a job. The
ACLU filed an amicus curiae brief in the Michigan Court of
Appeals arguing that placing Robert on the sex offender
registry under the circumstances was cruel and unusual
punishment. In November, the appeals court issued a
groundbreaking decision agreeing with the ACLU. People
v. DiPiazza; Cooperating Attorney Christine Pagac.
Wal-Mart Can’t Automatically Disqualify
Job Applicants with Criminal Records
The Michigan and National ACLU warned Wal-Mart in a letter that a blanket ban on hiring ex-offenders is illegal. The
ACLU sent the letter in December after receiving a complaint
about Wal-Mart’s hiring policy at the new Pittsfield Township
store.
Blanket bans
on hiring exoffenders — no
matter
how
old or how
unrelated the
conviction is to
the job sought
— violates federal employment law because of its impact on racial minorities. Wal-Mart asked for
a meeting with the ACLU and suggested it would review its
policy. ACLU Staff Attorney Jessie Rossman.
Mandatory Single-Sex Education In
Algonac
After learning that fourth graders at Millside Elementary
School in Algonac were involuntarily separated into two
single-gender classrooms, the ACLU of Michigan sent a
letter warning that these sex-segregated classrooms are
illegal, discriminatory and ineffective. Despite court rulings to the contrary, the school district claimed that they
were not violating the law because parents who did not
like single-sex education could move their kids into a different school. We are exploring litigation options. ACLU
Staff Attorney Jessie Rossman.
Right To Appellate Counsel For The Poor
In 2009, the Michigan Court of Appeals, relying on U.S. Supreme Court precedent set by the Michigan ACLU, ordered
a Saginaw County judge to appoint counsel to an individual who pleaded guilty so he could appeal his sentence.
Following the decision, the ACLU worked with Saginaw
County to notify thousands of individuals that they were
wrongfully denied their constitutional right to counsel. As
a result of this effort, more than a hundred will now receive counsel to appeal their sentences. People v. Holden;
Cooperating Attorney Terence Flanagan.
Man Charged With Terrorism For Biting
Neighbor
Despite the passage of the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act,
police in some communities are seizing marijuana from individuals with state-issued cards that give them permission to
grow medical marijuana. Other cities are passing ordinances
that conflict with the state law. The ACLU has already stepped
in to prevent police abuse of patients and their caregivers in
some cases. In one instance, after the ACLU wrote a letter to
the Wayne County Prosecutor’s office about the seizure of a
car from a medical marijuana patient, the car was returned. In
January, the ACLU filed a friend-of-the-court brief in a Montcalm County case asking for the dismissal of criminal charges
against two medical marijuana patients who were certified by
their doctor as individuals who would benefit from the use of
marijuana to treat their illnesses. People v. Patricia and David
Rempp; Cooperating Attorneys Nadav Ariel and Shaun Johnson and Staff Attorney Dan Korobkin.
Young Man With No
Conviction Placed On Sex
Offender Registry
When Robert Dipiazza was 18 years old, he
had consensual sex with his then-girlfriend
(and now wife) Nanette Trowbridge, who
was underage at the time. Although Nanette’s parents supported their relationship, a teacher reported the relationship
to police and Robert was charged with
criminal sexual conduct. The judge put him
in a diversionary program for youthful offenders and after a successful probationary period, Robert’s criminal charges were
dismissed. Although Robert had no convic-
Daniel Allen is accused of biting his neighbor during a
physical altercation. In addition to being charged with assault and battery, the Macomb County Prosecutor charged
him with terrorism because he is HIV-positive. The ACLU
is preparing a friend-of-the-court brief arguing that the
charges are founded on baseless assumptions about how
HIV is transmitted and that the Michigan terrorism statute
was not designed to punish this sort of behavior. People v.
Allen; Staff Attorney Jay Kaplan.
V I S I T U S O N L I N E AT W W W. AC L U M I C H . O R G
3
AN AMERICAN
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF
JOURNEY :
Ortheia Barnes-Kennerly sings
“America the Beautiful”
Co-chairs Eric Jirgens (Right) and Rollo O’Hare with Arianna Huffington
The 2009 Annual Dinner drew a sell-out crowd of more than 540 people to the
Westin Book Cadillac Detroit on November 7, 2009, for a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the ACLU of Michigan. Co-chaired by Eric Jirgens and Rollo O’Hare, the evening was featured in Ambassador Magazine, Hour Detroit and the Detroit Legal News.
They came to support the ACLU. They came to spend time with friends. They came
to honor our founders. They came to be part of a magnificent history.
And though it certainly was a gathering of old friends, a celebration of victories
past, the evening also encompassed the new: first-time hosts and table sponsors; novice volunteers; brand new members; an elegant though untried venue; and the first
Twitter posting at an ACLU event. Yes, keynote speaker Arianna Huffington, co-founder
and editor-in-chief of the Huffington Post, tweeted about the dinner in real time to avid
followers.
“The dinner is always a fun and inspiring way to get people engaged in the issues,”
said Eric Jirgens, ACLU of Michigan Annual Dinner co-chair. “Although we took a look
back at our history, the focus of the dinner was sustaining the work for the next 50
years. We have a great legacy that we must celebrate, but we also have a very important future. This future will be driven by an expanded statewide presence including an
new office in Western Michigan and an increase of our dedicated members across the
state all while mentoring the next generation of civil libertarians.”
The Hon. Dennis Archer and Reginald Turner, Chair of the United Way for
Southeastern Michigan
Other highlights included a 50th anniversary video, popular Detroit vocalist Ortheia Barnes-Kennerly singing “America the Beautiful,” the Maples Elementary School
Drum Ensemble and Huffington’s remarks.
Introduced by Ambassador Magazine Publisher Denise Ilitch, who described her
as “the most upwardly mobile Greek since Icarus,” Huffington, a naturalized American
ACLU of Michigan Western Advisory Board Member Bette
Sebastian poses with Arianna Huffington
University of Michigan Regent Libby Maynard (right) and
Atty. S. Olof Karlstrom with Arianna Huffingto
Maples Elementary School Drum Ensemble usher guests into the ballroom
4
V I S I T U S O N L I N E AT W W W. AC L U M I C H . O R G
THE ACLU OF MICHIGAN
THANK YOU SPONSORS & HOSTS
Constitution Champions
Eric Jirgens and Allan Gilmour
VIP Reception Sponsor
Denise Ilitch
Media Sponsor
Hour Detroit
From left to right, University of Michigan Regent Denise Ilitch, Senator Carl Levin,
Arianna Huffington and ACLU of Michigan Executive Director Kary L. Moss
citizen, spoke about the ACLU of Michigan’s 50-year fight for civil liberties protections
as an American journey.
“It’s not just the ACLU’s journey in Michigan, it’s part of the great journey of America towards a more perfect union,” Huffington said, “with liberty and justice for all.”
She emphasized the need for Americans to set aside labels and party distinctions
and to seek common ground.
“It’s so important for all of us to fight the perception that somehow the ACLU is
liberal, or to want to fight for gay rights is liberal, or to want to protect children from
being unduly incarcerated…is liberal. I keep fighting the battle that these things are not
left versus right, they are right versus wrong.”
And she urged continued engagement.
“In the end, our lives do not have meaning if they are not about something beyond
ourselves,” Huffington said, “if they are not about giving back to something larger than
ourselves, which is why so many of you are engaged with the ACLU. And which is why
so many of you that I met here tonight are doing such amazing work.”
Executive Director Kary Moss spoke of founders past and future.
“Just like our founders, we are not content with the status quo,” she said. “We are
intent on growth. You are our founders for our next 50 years. As we move forward,
throughout this great state, and expand our presence and work, the ACLU of Michigan
will be stronger than we are now. We will honor our founders by remaining faithful to
their vision of a state in which every person can live freely...”
Annual Dinner photos can be viewed on the ACLU of Michigan Facebook page.
From left to right, Atty. Joel Kellman, ADL Michigan Executive Director Betsy
Kellman, Detroit Branch NAACP Director Heaster Wheeler and Jennifer Wheeler
Founders Tribute Table Sponsors
Gary Boren
Rick and Pat Drabant
James Hoogstra and Clark Heath
Life for Relief and Development
David Moran and Kris Olsson
Michigan Department of Civil Rights
Michael & Peggy Goldberg Pitt
William and Elizabeth Rands
Sachs Waldman, P.C.
UAW-Ford National Programs Center
Honorary Hosts
ACCESS
Joshua and Judith Lowitz Adler
AFT Michigan
The Hon. Dennis Archer
Peter Armstrong
Mark Bernstein & Rachel Bendit
Cornelia Bradford
Mark Brewer
Stacey Cassis and Dr. Arianna Morales
Clark Hill (Daniel J. Bretz)
Norton J. Cohen
Rev. Harry T. Cook
Margaret A. Costello
Gil and Pat Davis
Leslie Desmond
Eugene Driker
Dykema Gossett PLLC (Heidi Naasko)
Henry Grix and Howard Israel
Imad Hamad (ADC-Michigan)
Hammond & Associates
H. Lynn Jondahl & Judy Martin
Mark L. Kahn
Betsy & Joel Kellman
Peter Kobrak
Deborah LaBelle
Michigan CAP Department, UAW International
Micki Levin and John Grenke
Sheldon & Mary Lois Levy
Daniel Little, Chancellor, U-M Dearborn
Olivia P. Maynard and S. Olof Karlstrom
Sandra and Douglas McClennen
Dr. Henry D. Messer and Carl House
Rolland & Fay O’Hare
Dr. Bob Pettapiece
Thomas C. Platt, M.D.
James Rodbard & Mary Root
Pamela and Krishna Sawhney
Faye Schuett and Linda S. Burnett
Robert and Rozanne Sedler
Claudia Seldon
Jack & Elsa M. Shartsis
Michael Shubeck and Nancy Monsour
Gus Teschke
Susan Titus
UAW Region I, Joseph Peters, director
UAW Region 1-A, Rory L. Gamble, director
Dr. Orian Worden
SILENT AUCTION DONORS
Andiamo Novi Theatre
Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase
Astrein’s Creative Jewelers, Birmingham
Atlas Global Bistro, Detroit
Avalon International Breads, Detroit
Marléne Burk
Hedgie Cartwright (Celebrating Home)
Chateau Chantal, Traverse City
Chizzy The Artist (Mike Chisholm)
Clara Clark
David Wachler & Sons Jewelers (Paul Maki)
Detroit Historical Society
Detroit Princess Riverboat
Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Repertory Theatre
Detroit Symphony Orchestra
English Gardens, West Bloomfield
Fred Astaire Dance Studio, Bloomfield Hills
Gem & Century Theatres, Detroit
Grinstein Jewelry & Design, Birmingham
Marian Hamilton
The Heidelberg Project, Detroit
Hour Detroit, Royal Oak
Doretha Hunter
Hyatt Regency Dearborn
Shirley Kelly
Audrey Lester
Lily’s Seafood Grill & Brewery, Royal Oak
Locher-the-Artist (Jeanette Locher)
Luigi Bruni Salon, Birmingham
Lynn Portnoy Inc., Southfield
Meadow Brook Theatre, Rochester
Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit
Neferene.com (Augusta Simmons)
Neiman Marcus Troy
Gwen Patrick
Phoenicia Restaurant, Birmingham
Naomi and Robert Prince
PRP Wine, Madison Heights
Purple Rose Theatre Company, Chelsea
Howard and Rheta Rubenstein
Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Troy
Elsa Shartsis
ShopSarahScott.com
Lynn E. Simons
Simply Wine, Birmingham
Ralph C. Simpson
Sweet Lorraine’s Cafe & Bar, Southfield
The Heidelberg Project
The Majestic Café, Detroit
The Townsend Hotel, Birmingham
The Westin Book Cadillac Detroit
Tiffany Florist, Birmingham
Wayne Walma
WSU Theatres
From left to right, ACLU of Michigan Interns Jen
Coleman, Clark Knudtson and Katherine Carlton
V I S I T U S O N L I N E AT W W W. AC L U M I C H . O R G
5
A T
T H E
G R A S S R O O T S
50 YEARS OF GRASSROOTS ACTIVISM
Though the ACLU has always been viewed as powerful, few people know
that just a handful of brave and outspoken activists around the state of Michigan are responsible for the organization you know today. Long before there
was an ACLU of Michigan, there were all-volunteer committees working tirelessly around the state to confront government abuses of power.
The stories of our formation are fascinating. Those of you who lived
through the McCarthy era, the civil rights movement, Vietnam, etc., remember that it was no small feat to stand up to government power during these
decades. To do so meant taking a level of personal risk that many don’t face
today. In 1960, speaking out against police abuse meant you and your family
could be followed home by squad cars. Fighting city ordinances that banned
African Americans from buying homes meant facing ostracization or hostile
attacks from your neighbors. The fact that activists in Detroit, Lansing and
other Michigan cities not only persisted in their fight for constitutional rights
and worked to establish a state office while winning tremendous victories
along the way is nothing short of remarkable. We owe a tremendous debt of
gratitude to these many women and men who we call our founders.
Flint Branch
Then: In 1975, the Flint Branch was successful in getting the Shiawassee
Intermediate School District to reinstate an emotionally impaired student it
had expelled unjustly despite Michigan law guaranteeing a free education and
availability of federal funds for disabled students.
Now: In 2009, the Flint Branch, working with cooperating attorneys and staff
from the state office, won relief for over 100 men and women who were unlawfully strip-searched by Flint area law enforcement at a licensed dance club.
Lansing Branch
Then: In 1990, the Lansing Branch successfully argued that poor people facing
jail time in a civil contempt proceeding for not paying child support have the
right to a court-appointed attorney.
Now: The Lansing Branch convinced Bath Township officials in 2008 that the
Township’s political sign ordinance limiting sign size was unconstitutional. It
cleared the way for a Bath Township artist, who had been forced to take down
his sign, to put it back in its place on his property.
Metro Detroit Branch
Then: From 1952 to 1978, members of the Metro Detroit Branch waged a
remarkable campaign to force the state to repeal all provisions of the Trucks
Act. The Trucks Act, which was Michigan’s version of the federal Smith Act,
intended to contain members or sympathizers of the Community Party and
other “subversive” groups. Restrictions or requirements for those suspected
of belonging or associating with the Communist Party included having to register with the state police, being prohibited from running for office, and being
banned from public employment.
Now: Leading up to the historic election of 2008, Metro Detroit Branch members educated hundreds of voters at welfare offices about their rights at the
polls.
Northwest Branch
Then: In 1973, the Northwest Branch began a court-watching program to monitor whether those accused of crimes were accorded all of the constitutional
guarantees to which they were entitled.
Now: In 2009, working with the state office, the Northwest Branch successfully challenged the Leelanau County Sherriff’s Department to stop conducting
unlawful home invasions in order to breathalyze minors.
Oakland County Branch
Then: In 1972, the Oakland County Branch obtained a Court of Appeals ruling
agreeing with the ACLU that Rochester Schools could not ban Kurt Vonnegut’s
classic book, “Slaughterhouse Five.”
Now: The Oakland County Branch convinced the Ferndale Police Department in
2001 to put an end to a plan to breathalyze patrons at area bars and restaurants without probable cause.
Southwest Branch
Then: An anti-war group was able to rally in Kalamazoo’s Bronson Park following the intervention of the Southwest Branch in 1971. The group was initially
denied their right to demonstrate in the park by a city commission after being
quizzed about their attitudes toward society and their political views.
Now: In 2002, the Southwest Branch defended the rights of an ordained minister to conduct baptisms in a public park.
Washtenaw Branch
Then: In 1968, the Washtenaw Branch took on “police-counselors” in local high
schools. The actions of the branch succeeded in keeping law enforcement from
having access to student records or being able to question students without a
parent present.
Now: In 2003, the branch succeeded in getting the Ypsilanti Housing Commission to halt the use of their “one-strike” eviction policy against tenants who
were victims of domestic violence.
Western Branch
Then: In 1984, the Western Branch worked with the Michigan Migrant Legal
Assistance Project to obtain an injunction against warrantless searches of
vehicles containing persons of “Hispanic or Mexican origin” by the Immigration
and Naturalization Services (“INS,” as it was called at the time) and U.S. Border
Patrol.
Now: The Western Branch, as part of an area coalition, convinced the Grand
Rapids City Commission to adopt a resolution protesting the overzealous and
unconstitutional provisions of the post-9/11 USA Patriot Act. The branch organized hundreds of community members to sign petitions to the City indicating
their opposition to the Patriot Act in 2005.
6
METRO DETROIT BRANCH CELEBRATES
ATTORNEY AMOS WILLIAMS AND BILL OF
RIGHTS DAY
The 218th anniversary
of the Bill of Rights was the
perfect date to honor Detroit-area attorney Amos
Williams. Williams was presented with the Bernard
Gottfried Award, which is
given annually to remember this area’s civil liberties
champion. Amos, who is a Atty. Amos Williams accepts the
good friend to the ACLU, Bernard Gottfried Award
has had a long career in the
law and in law enforcement
and has been the ACLU’s go-to attorney on cases related to unconstitutional behavior of police in Detroit Public Schools. The branch also
awarded three students who won this year’s Civil Liberties Creativity
Contest for their written and lyrical works tackling civil liberties issues
of greatest importance to them. The 2009 winners were Sajeda Ahmed,
Marshaie Jones and Daniel Skierski. Our deepest thanks go to Michigan
First Credit Union for generously sponsoring this year’s contest.
GAY RIGHTS, STUDENT RIGHTS IN
NORTHERN MICHIGAN
Our Northwestern Michigan Branch participated in two know-yourrights events as they wrapped up 2009. November featured an update
on the state of gay rights in Northern Michigan with ACLU Staff Attorney Jay Kaplan. And in December, a packed room heard from attorneys Brenda Jones Quick and Al Quick on student rights to privacy, free
speech and more.
DON’T READ THIS BOOK!
The Southwestern Michigan Branch joined with the Kalamazoo
Public Library and the Art Hop to
host a rousing reading of frequently
banned and challenged books as part
of the national week recognizing the
dangers of censorship. Local celebrities read from banned or challenged
books including The Kite Runner,
Animal Farm and Harry Potter. The
branch also awarded local artists in
their first Banned Books Art Contest.
Leah Nicole Runchey won first prize
for her graphite and charcoal drawing: Censorship at Hogwarts; Anna
Barnhart won honorable mention for
her mixed media work: By Animals
for Animals; and Katrina Slater won
honorable mention for her ink drawing: Family, inspired by children’s
book And Tango Makes Three.
SAVE THE DATE!
To get the details about these events or
purchase tickets, visit our website at
www.aclumich.org
February 2, 2010 – March 26, 2010: Southwest Branch
Civil Liberties Film Fest, Saffron Indian Restaurant, Kalamazoo
February 2, 2010: “American Violet”
A true story about race, the war on drugs and “confidential
informants.”
February 26, 2010: “People vs. Larry Flynt”
Woody Harrelson stars as one of America’s most controversial figures in the fight for the First Amendment.
March 12, 2010: “Twelve Angry Men”
The classic film examines the concept of “reasonable
doubt” in a murder trial. Stars Henry Fonda.
March 26, 2010: “The Lives of Others”
This Academy Award winning foreign language film follows
East Germany’s notorious Stasi secret police eavesdropping
on a playwright and his actress girl friend. A stark exploration of the effect of surveillance on the watched and the
watcher.
March 10, 2010: “Milk” screenwriter Dustin Lance Black discusses the art of inclusiveness. Detroit.
April 2, 2010: Lansing Branch theater fundraiser,
“The Exonerated.” Tickets, $25 includes refreshments and talkback with the cast.
April 17, 2010: Northwest Branch Annual Dinner, Elks Lodge,
Traverse City. Speaker TBA.
April 20, 2010: A discussion of the ACLU’s gene patent
litigation and Southwest Branch Annual Meeting at the Fetzer
Center, WMU Campus, Kalamazoo.
April 29, 2010: Author and minister Rob Bell speaks as part
of the ACLU’s 50th Anniversary Legacy Lecture series and the
Western Branch Annual Meeting. Grand Rapids.
V I S I T U S O N L I N E AT W W W. AC L U M I C H . O R G
A T
T H E
C A P I T O L
2009 LEGISLATIVE VICTORIES
The ACLU of Michigan can look back with
some pride at the good work we accomplished in Lansing during 2009. Victories
are relative, and they can come in degrees of magnitude, but we certainly had
more victories than disappointments this
past year.
Decriminalizing Medical Marijuana
Let’s start with the biggest – 63 percent of Michigan
voters, and at least 50 percent in every county, approved
the decriminalization of medical marijuana in our state.
The ACLU of Michigan was instrumental in shaping the final guidelines developed by the Department of Community
Health to administer Michigan’s Medical Marijuana Act. Our
work is not over as we now need to defend the core protections of the law against abuse by some law enforcement
agencies and from local municipalities that seek to subvert
the fundamental rights granted under the voter approved
initiative. In Lansing, the ACLU is proactively working with
our legislators to effectively implement the Medical Marijuana Act according to the will of Michigan voters.
Protecting Reproductive Freedom
While a battle rages across the country over further
restrictions on a woman’s right and access to an abortion
through the proposed health care reform, the Michigan
legislature is on the verge of enacting several bills that
promote smart policy on reproductive rights issues. HB
5155-5165, HR 118 -120 and HCR 23 support informed and
responsible health care decisions regarding family planning
while addressing the need to reduce sexually transmitted
diseases and unintended pregnancies. The package addresses numerous reproductive rights and family planning
issues, including:
• Giving women affordable
access to birth control
• Promoting honest, medically accurate sex education
• Guaranteeing that women
who survive rape or sexual
assault are offered information about, and access to,
emergency contraception
• Ensuring insurance coverage for birth control
• Expanding family-planning
services
• Ensuring that pharmacists
fill birth-control prescriptions
• Supporting teen-pregnancy
prevention efforts
All but two bills, both dealing with infertility treatment,
passed the committee and will
ACLU of Michigan attorneys and clients in the pregnancy discrimination lawsuit
go for a full vote of the House
against the DPD with Rep. Coleman Young, Jr. after a hearing on HB 4327
in 2010. This victory is a little
sweeter because the ACLU
reached out to Right to Life of Michigan and secured their
Ending Workplace Discrimination Of
“low-key” support on the bills that would require emergency
Pregnant Women
care facilities to inform and offer emergency contraception to
survivors of sexual assault.
Another hard-fought victory for women of Michigan
was realized on December 21, 2009, when Governor Granholm signed into law HB 4327, now PA 190 of 2009. This
Advocating For LGBT Equality
law increases protection in Michigan’s civil rights laws for
The ACLU saw victories for the LGBT community this past
pregnant women in the workplace. Our persistent work on
year, as well. Representative Rebekah Warren introduced HB
this legislative victory stems from an ACLU legal challenge
4192 to amend the Elliott- Larsen Civil Rights Act to add sexual
to the Detroit Police Department’s policy that prohibits a
orientation, gender identity or expression as protected classpregnant employee from working during her pregnancy.
es. After an informative hearing before the House Judiciary
This policy clearly violates the Pregnancy Discrimination
Committee, the bill passed and was reported to the full House
Act under Title VII.
of Representatives where it awaits a floor vote. Also in NovemRepresentative Coleman Young Jr. introduced a bill
ber, Representative Pam Byrnes introduced bills to overturn
amending our civil rights law that would clearly prohibit
the constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage or
discrimination based on pregnancy. With this amendment,
similar union for any purpose in Michigan.
a woman who is pregnant must be treated like any other
After Representative Roy Schmidt introduced HB 4583,
disabled worker in the organization.
a bill that would have reWith the continued influence and support of our Michimoved the requirement for
gan ACLU members, we expect we will realize more victoinformed consent upon HIV
ries as we enter the last year of Michigan’s 95th Legislative
testing, the ACLU of MichiSession. 2010 is an election year and the Legislative Office
gan formed a small coaliwill, once again, prepare and publish a Voter’s Guide covertion with the Department
ing the candidates for the Michigan Senate, the Michigan
of Community Health, the
House and for the Governor’s office.
AIDS Partnership of Michigan and other HIV awareness groups to convey the
importance of informed
consent in HIV testing.
Through our diligence and
outreach, we expect the fiKary L. Moss
Executive Director
nal bill will pass through the
Mary Bejian
Deputy Director
House and Senate. By doing
Mia
Axon
Development Director
so Michigan will ensure that
patients are provided with
Marie Burke
Director of Finance and
the information they need
Administration
to make an informed deciRana Elmir
Communications Director
sion regarding their HIV
Michael J. Steinberg Legal Director
testing and potential treat-
STAFF
ment.
Shelli Weisberg
Legislative Director
Brenda Bove
Paralegal
Melissa Combs
Major Gifts Officer
Mark Fanche
Staff Attorney Racial
Justice Project
ACLU OF MICHIGAN
WELCOMES MIA AXON AS
DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Paul Jeden
Development Associate
Jay Kaplan Staff Attorney LGBT
Project
Dan Korobkin
Staff Attorney
Roland Leggett
Field Organizer
The American Civil Liberties Union of
Michigan is happy to welcome fundraising veteran Mia Axon as development director.
In her role at the ACLU of Michigan, Mia
manages and coordinates the organization’s
development operations.
Mia brings 18 years of development and
leadership experience to the position. Most
recently, she held the position of lead major
gift officer at the University of Michigan’s Department of Surgery. Prior to that, she was
the regional major gifts officer at the Environmental Defense Fund in Boulder, Colorado and
the Director of Development at the National
Museum of Wildlife Art in Wyoming. Mia also
directed the capital campaign at The Nature
Conservancy in Wyoming.
In addition to her successes in development and fundraising, Mia is an accomplished
musician and professional rock climber. Before Mia entered the development profession,
she served as the principal harpist for the
Colorado Ballet Orchestra. Also, Mia was the
national climbing champion in 1993 and 1994,
was fourth-place finisher in the 1994 World
Cup in Austria, and third-place finisher in ESPN’s 1995 Extreme Games.
Mia graduated with a master’s degree
from the New England Conservatory of Music
and a bachelor’s degree in harp performance
from the University of Michigan.
Isela Patiño
Office Manager
Deborah Patrick
Special Events Manager
Jessie Rossman
Staff Attorney
OFFICERS
Ralph Simpson
President
Jacquelin Washington
President Pro Tem
Joe Tuchinsky
Treasurer
William Fleener
Secretary
ACTION ALERT
Jessica Hermann-Wilmarth Executive VP ACLU of
Michigan Fund
OUR STRENGTH IS IN OUR
NUMBERS
Every voice is needed to help protect and preserve civil liberties.
Join our Action Alert Network and let your voice be heard.
Sign up at www.aclumich.org and make the ACLU of
Michigan a powerful voice in Lansing. This free, easy-touse online service allows you to send emails to your state
legislator with a click of a mouse.
RIGHTS REVIEW
Rana Elmir, Editor
Published by the
American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan /
ACLU Fund of Michigan
2966 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, Michigan 48201
www.aclumich.org
(313) 578-6800
V I S I T U S O N L I N E AT W W W. AC L U M I C H . O R G
7
CREATING INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES
Spring Legacy Lectures explore the meaning of tolerance and the impact of artist/advocates in a new political era
In the East: Dustin Lance Black, artist/advocates and the new
political class
Legacy Lecture - East
“Activism and the
Creative Class”
The ACLU of Michigan is excited to bring another national speaker to Detroit. Dustin Lance Black, the
Academy Award-winning writer of the screenplay, “Milk” (about the life and tragic death of Harvey Milk) will
speak at the spring Legacy Lecture on Wednesday, March 10, 2010, at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit
on the topic of “Activism and the Creative Class: The Art of Building Inclusive Communities.” As Michigan works
to build more inclusive communities – communities that will enliven the economy, enhance understanding
and cooperation, and provide new opportunities for social and political engagement – artist/advocates are
emerging as a voice for change and accord. We hope to continue the dialogue through this event.
Black, 36, will share his personal experiences as an artist who has become a strong advocate for LGBT
rights. The gay son of devout Mormon parents who grew up in Texas, Black, inspired by the example of
Milk, dared to come out, be himself and pursue his dreams. In addition to “Milk,” Black has won acclaim for
his work as a writer and producer of the HBO series, “Big Love,” about a modern Mormon family in Utah
practicing polygamy, and for his screenplay, “Pedro” about the late AIDS activist Pedro Zamora. He won the
2009 Writers Guild of America-West Paul Selwin Award for work celebrating civil liberties and the 2009 Best
Screenplay Academy Award for “Milk.” His success and advocacy now inspire others.
The evening also will include a strolling reception that is perfect for networking.
Sponsors helping to make this event possible are ACLU of Michigan LGBT Project Leadership
Committee; Between the Lines; Bureau of Urban Living, Cooley Law School; Michigan Roundtable for
Diversity and Inclusion; MSU College of Law; Rachel’s Place, Slows Bar BQ and The Whitney. To become
a sponsor, call special events manager Deb Patrick at (313) 578-6827. Sponsorships range from $250 to
$5000 and include benefits at every level.
Tickets are available online at www.aclumich.org, and by phone at (313) 578-6827, or you may use the
form below.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
@ 6 p.m.
Museum of Contemporary
Art Detroit
4454 Woodward Avenue
Featuring
Dustin Lance Black
Tickets:
$30 members
$40 non-members
$15 students
$100 VIPs*
*VIP tickets include
admission to a private
reception
Out West: Rev. Rob Bell, an Annual Meeting and a Civil
Libertarian of the Year
Legacy Lecture - West
“The True Meaning of Tolerance”
Thursday, April 29, 2010
6 p.m.
On Thursday, April 29, 2010, the Western Branch of the ACLU of Michigan will hold its Annual
Meeting and Civil Libertarian of the Year Presentation at the Wealthy Theatre in Grand Rapids.
The featured speaker, drawn from our ongoing Legacy Lecture series, will be the Rev. Rob Bell,
founding pastor of the Mars Hill Bible Church in Grandville, Michigan. His topic: “The True Meaning
of Tolerance.”
Known for his “fresh take on Christianity that emphasizes inclusiveness, flexibility, love and
forgiveness,” Bell, 39, is the author of “Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith,” among other
notable texts. His unconventional views draw thousands to Mars Hill and to speaking engagements
across the country and around the world. In the last three months, Bell has drawn audiences to
college campuses, cathedrals and other venues in California, the United Kingdom and Australia.
Tapping into a keen interest in religious liberty in the Grand Rapids area, the ACLU invited Bell to
share his perspectives at the Legacy Lecture there.
The evening also will feature a reception and post-lecture book signing. VIP ticket holders will
the opportunity to meet Bell in a more intimate setting at a private afterglow.
Tickets are available online at www.aclumich.org, at the Wealthy Theatre Box Office, 1 130
Wealthy Street, S.E. in Grand Rapids; or by calling (313) 578-6827.
Wealthy Theatre
1130 Wealthy Street
Grand Rapids
Featuring the
Rev. Rob Bell
Tickets:
$20 members
$40 non-members
$10 students
$100 VIPs
*VIP tickets include admission to
the private afterglow
RSVP
Enclosed is my check for $ ____________ made payable to the
ACLU Fund of Michigan.
Name
Please charge $____________ to my:
VISA
Address
City
State
MasterCard
Discover
ZIP
Card Number
Phone
American Express
Exp. Date
Email Address
I’d like to reserve _____ member / non-member / student ticket(s) for the
Spring 2010 Legacy Lecture with:
Signature
Billing Address, if different from above:
Rob Bell on April 29 in Grand Rapids
Dustin Lance Black on March 10 in Detroit
I’d like to become a sponsor at the following level:
Advocate ($250)
Benefactor ($500)
Champion ($1000)
Defender ($2500)
Guardian ($5000)
For more information contact Deb Patrick at (313) 578-6827. Send check with RSVP to ACLU of Michigan, Attn: Special Events Manager, 2966 Woodward Avenue,
Detroit, MI 48201-3035 or fax form with credit information to (313) 578-6811.
RIGHTS REVIEW
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