Protecting Constitutional Rights: A series of local discussions on national issues
All talks at 7-8 pm, with 30 min. questions to follow.
Social and light refreshments 630-7 pm.
Free and open to the public.
Topic 1: Civil Liberties and Democracy
Date: April 28th. Location: Unitarian Universalist Church
Dr. Michael Berkman, Director, The McCourtney Institute for Democracy, Penn State
Restrictions on the media, universities, and law firms, along with the deportation of international college students, all raise concerns about the future of our civil liberties. In this talk we’ll discuss the tension inherent in our democracy between government power and individual liberties, focusing on the importance of the Bill of Rights from the founding through today. What can we do to help?
Topic 2: Authoritarianism in Color: What Makes Autocracy Attractive and Durable?
Date: May 5. Locations: University Baptist and Brethren Church and via Zoom
Prof. Aida Hozic, U. of Florida, https://polisci.ufl.edu/directory/aida-a-hozic/
How to understand how democracy dies in other countries with several examples. What we can do in the US to protect our constitution, both as large organizations as well as individuals. What can we do to help?
Topic 3: Project 2025: Conservative mandate or manifesto?
Date: May 12. Locations: University Baptist and Brethren Church and via Zoom
Dr. Kristy Ganoe, Penn State
Project 2025 is the 900-page political strategy that seems to be guiding national executive orders and other policy decisions. Join us for a summary of the strategies proposed and an analysis of the rhetorical techniques that this document uses. Workshop ideas for how Americans can and should respond to the implementation of these plans. What can we do to help maintain and rebuild our democratic institutions?
Topic 4: Contemporary Threats to National Security and the Constitution
Date: May 19 Location: University Baptist and Brethren Church and via Zoom
Ray Bilger, Senior National Security Officer (ret.)
What is happening with the intelligence agencies? People are being fired at both ends of their careers, and senior leaders are being fired and replaced with political appointees to agencies which are by design necessarily apolitical. What does this mean, and what can we do to help?
Locations: Universalist Church, 780 Waupalani Drive Extension, State College, PA
University Baptist and Brethren Church, 411 S. Burrowes St., State College, PA
[Zoom] https://psu.zoom.us/j/98779879346
Sponsored by the Central PA Chapter of the ACLU, the University Baptist and Brethren Church, and the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Centre County.
www.aclupa.org/en/chapters/centralpa, centralchapter.pa@gmail.com