News
Press Release

Congressman Barney Frank to Keynote ACLU's 2003 Whitehead Dinner

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug 5, 2003

U.S. Congressman Barney Frank will be the keynote speaker at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Colorado's annual Carle Whitehead Memorial Award Dinner on Saturday, September 20, 2003, at the Westin Tabor Center in downtown Denver, 1672 Lawrence Street. The event begins with a silent auction at 6 p.m.

Congressman Frank, a Massachusetts Democrat, is an outspoken advocate of civil liberties and the first openly gay congressman. He will speak on the topic of keeping America safe and free in keeping with the theme of the dinner.

Congressman Frank has been in the U.S. House since 1981. He is the senior Democrat on the Financial Services Committee and is also a member of the Select Committee on Homeland Security, where he serves on the Subcommittee on Infrastructure and Border Security and the Subcommittee on Intelligence and Counterterrorism. Previously, he was a Massachusetts state representative and an assistant to the Mayor of Boston. He has also taught at several Boston-area universities.

The theme of this year's dinner is "Safe AND Free." According to Katherine Pease, interim executive director of the ACLU of Colorado, "Those who say that Americans must sacrifice freedoms for the sake of safety are offering us a false choice. The loss of civil liberties since 9/11 has been unnecessary to keep our citizens safe. Measures like the U.S.A. PATRIOT Act jeopardize the civil liberties of Americans. The ACLU is committed to defending the freedom of every citizen."

Also at the dinner, Jaren Ducker, long-time Denver civil liberties advocate, will receive the Carle Whitehead Award for her continued commitment to advancing civil liberties in the Denver Metro Area. Ms. Ducker is well known in Denver for her work with the Denver Public Library and Planned Parenthood.

The evening's award remembers Carle Whitehead, an attorney and worker in the cause of civil liberties who helped found the ACLU of Colorado in 1952. Since 1955, the Carle Whitehead Memorial Award has been awarded by the ACLU Foundation to Coloradans who reflect a life-long commitment to furthering civil liberties. Each year the ACLU of Colorado asks its members and friends to join in celebrating an individual who has been instrumental to the advancement of civil liberties.

The mission of the ACLU of Colorado is to protect, defend and extend the civil rights and civil liberties of all Coloradans through litigation, education and advocacy. The annual award dinner helps raise funds to support the organization's mission.

The evening will also include entertainment by the Gay Men's Chorus and a silent auction. Donations are now being solicited for the auction. Persons interested in donating items please contact the ACLU of Colorado office at 303-777-5482.

To sponsor a table or reserve individual tickets, contact the ACLU of Colorado office at 303-777-5482. Tickets are $200 per person and table sponsorships are available. Reservations should be secured by September 12th

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