It seems, from print to social media to even the late night talk shows, the conversation of surveillance is all the rage, but according to news sources and recent government whistle blowers like Edward Snowden, the level of wire tapping and personal spying on ordinary Americans has long been a bit of a national pastime conducted behind closed doors.
On Monday, the ACLU of Michigan will be hosting a special panel discussion as a part of their Civil Liberties Speaker Series to be held at UICA over the next couple of months.
The topic of privacy shows no sign of losing relevance in our culture as the country prepares for test drones over U.S. soil and the most recent round of legal challenges regarding the NSA’s hacking into American citizen’s phone records and other forms of personal communication continue.
The event is presented as a part of the ACLU’s expansion into West Michigan. The organization remains committed to producing meaningful dialogue about America’s civil liberties and if they are being enhanced rather than compromised by these new advances in technology and science.
Speakers attending the panel include:
Marcy Wheeler is the author of
Anatomy of Deceit, the book about the Scooter Libby trial and the leak of the classified info outing Valerie Plame as an undercover CIA operative. She is also a journalist specializing in national security and civil liberties who regularly contributes to The Guardian, Daily Kos, The Huffington Post, and Michigan Liberal as well as her own website Empty Wheel.
Ronald G. DeWaard, an attorney with vast experience in civil liberties. DeWaard is a partner at the law firm Varnum, LLP and previously served an Assistant United States Attorney in Miami as well as Deputy Chief of the Major Crimes Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Shelli Weisberg, the legislative director of the ACLU of Michigan. Weisberg has long worked to persuade the legislature and administrative agencies to enact or amend legislation consistent with civil liberties principles and educate the public on the importance of legislative processes in the protection of our rights and liberties.
According to the organizers of this event, they chose the panelists because they are keyed in to changes in different aspects of privacy rights.
Marcy Wheeler has extensive experience following the national security aspects of privacy rights. Ron DeWaard’s work as a prosecutor has left him with a wealth of information on concerns at the local level, particularly regarding police enforcement and criminal justice issues. Shelli Weisberg is a resident expert on all aspects of ACLU policy, and she can help formally address the ACLU position on the issues, while also explaining how to best help create change through legislative and other means to help protect our privacy interests.
Planning ahead in 2014? The second in the ACLU's Civil Liberties Speaker Series returns to UICA with Hands Off! Ending The War on Women on Monday, March 10 at 7 p.m. Regardless of which side of aisle you sit on, these types of programming events make for thrilling post-lecture conversations in any of our area restaurants or pubs.
Admission: Free but register online
here.