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Last Updated 9/29/07

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How to Exercise Your Right to Dissent: An Educational Forum for Community & Student Activists Thursday, September 27, 2007, 7pm UNCA Highsmith Center, Room 221 Buncombe County Sheriff, Van Duncan, Asheville Police Chief Bill Hogan, and City Council members, Robin Cape, are among the distinguished panelists who will present their views and answer questions at a public education forum on properly exercising your constitutional right to dissent. Sparked by recent events in the Asheville area, the Panel will explore the rights and restrictions on protesters in exercising their first amendment rights to express disagreement with government and corporate policies and activities. Professor Mark Gibney, UNCA’s Belk Distinguished Professor of Humanities, will serve as Moderator. Important local issues to be discussed include those raised by the flag "desecration" case and a recent protest which occurred at the Bank of America. “We’re very excited by the prospects of this Forum,” says organizer, Alex Cury, a Board member of the ACLU WNC chapter, “because it will be a rare opportunity for a candid exchange of views among dissenters, government officials and the persons responsible for enforcing limitations on free speech.” Ms. Cury also stated that she anticipates that the Panel will shed light on questions such as: How do you exercise your rights to free speech and free assembly within the bounds of the law? Is a permit necessary? Where and under what circumstances can you display a sign or banner? Can you demonstrate on private property? Can you use a bullhorn or other amplification equipment? The issue of non-violent, though illegal, protests will also be considered.Previously announced panelists include City Attorney Robert Oast, local political and social activist Clare Hanrahan. UNCA Professor Dwight Mullen, UNCA Students for a Democratic Society’s President, Kati Ketz, and local attorney Frank Goldsmith. That the issue of dissent is a timely one is reflected not only in the diversity of the Panel itself, but in the ever-growing coalition of local organizations which are endorsing the Forum. See below for current list. For more information, please contact Alex Cury at 253-5088 or acury@juno.com. For directions to Highsmith Center, click here. Veterans for Peace Women in Black Asheville Buncombe Citizens for Quality Government Buncombe Greens Grandmothers for Peace The Department of Peace The Unitarian Universalist Church of Asheville Human Rights Team Virato Live! People Advocating Real Conservancy Mountain Voices Alliance The Ethical Society of Asheville Students for a Democratic Society Coalition of Earth Religions for Education and Support (CERES) Carolina Animal Action Katuah Earth First! MAIN WPVM. Save Our Civil Liberties Campaign The Peace and Earth Committee of Asheville Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) Stop Tasers Now!

The ACLU is our Nation’s Guardian of Liberty
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is the guardian of the liberties which set the United States apart from other nations, and as such the ACLU works daily in courts, legislatures, and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the U.S. Bill of Rights

The American system of government is founded on two counterbalancing principles: first, that the majority of the people governs, through democratically elected representatives; and second that the power of even a democratic majority must be limited in order to ensure individual rights. Those limits have been set by the Constitution’s Bill of Rights, which consists of the original ten amendments ratified in 1791, plus the three post-Civil War amendments (the Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth) and the Nineteenth Amendment (women’s suffrage), adopted in 1920. The mission of the ACLU is to preserve all of these protections and guarantees.

The Role of the Local Western North Carolina Chapter
The WNC chapter of the American Civil Liberties is the local branch of the ACLU, representing the 18 western-most counties in North Carolina. Of the nearly 300,000 members and supporters of the ACLU nationwide, our chapter accounts for at least 775. Local chapters like ours work under their respective state affiliates--we work under the NC ACLU-- and state affiliates work under the national ACLU.

Litigation, Legislative and Public Education
Since the mission of the ACLU is to protect civil liberties, that includes not only litigation, but also legislative lobbying and public education. Maintaining contact with state legislators and providing testimony on proposed legislation is an effort of state affiliates to minimize civil liberties infringement in new laws. In NC that is one of the time-consuming responsibilities of the executive director, Jennifer Rudinger. The ACLU is better known for litigating, since that is what the media focuses on, but it’s far less costly to head off potential violations while they’re still potential--hence the time spent monitoring state legislatures.

ACLU WNC Chapter President James Harrison, Ph.D.