Upcoming Eyes in the Sky event focuses on your rights
Join the Western Branch of the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan for a discussion on privacy rights. From drones to NSA hacking, the ACLU is dedicated to ensuring that civil liberties are enhanced rather than compromised by new advances in science and technology. The ACLU’s mission is to expand the right to privacy and increase the control that individuals have over their personal information.
Don’t miss Eyes in the Sky on Monday, January 13 at 7:00p.m. at the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts– 2 Fulton West, Grand Rapids, MI. 49503.
Joe Marogil, coordinator of the event, stresses the importance of the public’s right to know. “Specifically, we hope that people will come away more informed on what their privacy rights are, and what is being done to undermine those rights. We want people to learn what options they have available to protect their rights, and we want to provide a forum for them to learn. We want them to know that the ACLU is working on a local and national level to protect the right to privacy, he explained.”
Panelists Include:
Mary Wheeler, 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 as 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 worked to persuade policy makers 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.
“We chose the panelists because they are all specialists in different aspects of privacy rights. Marcy Wheeler has extensive experience following the national security aspects of privacy rights. Ron DeWaard worked as a prosecutor and can speak to the local level, and police protection issues. Additionally, he can speak to the question of whether corporations like google and facebook are too invasive in their collection of data, and where the line is draw. Shelli Weisberg is one of our resident experts on all aspects of ACLU policy, and we are hoping 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,” Marogil concluded.
The event is free and open to the public. For more information, check: www.aclumich.org/westernspeakers
