ACLU Honors Civil Liberties Champions At Annual Bill of Rights Dinner Thursday, December 12, 2002
Thursday, December 12, 2002
LOS ANGELES – On Thursday, December 12, 2002 at 6:00 p.m., the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California celebrates its annual Bill of Rights Dinner at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel. The event recognizes exceptional individuals who have helped preserve civil liberties and civil rights.
Throughout Barry Levinson’s career as a writer, producer and director, he has addressed some of the most important issues of our time, including sexual harassment, the death penalty, corruption in politics, anti-Semitism, race relations, social justice and the Vietnam War. When Levinson co-wrote ...And Justice for All, he examined the entire justice system on a very personal level. As Executive Producer of Shot in the Heart, Levinson took an intimate look at the death penalty and the end of Gary Gilmore’s life (the case was handled by an ACLU attorney). His film Wag the Dog was a brilliant satire of political corruption. In Disclosure, Levinson explored sexual harassment in an untraditional way, and brought attention to this significant issue. With Good Morning Vietnam, Levinson made one of the most important films about the Vietnam War. As Executive Producer of the HBO popular series Oz, he invites audiences to see the human side of life in prison.
The ACLU/SC is proud to present Fred Goldring and Ken Hertz of the firm Goldring, Hertz, Lichtenstein & Haft, LLP with the 2002 Bill of Rights Award for their extraordinary commitment to social justice. The impressive list of artists they represent includes Alanis Morissette, Will Smith, Destiny’s Child, Christina Aguilera, No Doubt, Gun ‘N’ Roses, Boyz II Men, Live and Herbie Hancock. Both Goldring and Hertz have shown tremendous dedication to social issues central to the work of the ACLU. They are extremely active members of the board of directors of several organizations including Rock the Vote, whose public education campaign has successfully involved thousands of young adults in the political process and P.S. Arts, an organization that provides instruction in the arts to 4,000 children at ten schools in some of the most underserved neighborhoods in Los Angeles. Additionally, Ken serves on the Benefits Committee of the of the Violence Policy Center (VPC), a leader in defining the issues and policies that drive the gun control debate.
The Eason Monroe Courageous Advocate, R. Samuel Paz, enjoys incredible regard throughout the civil rights and civil liberties community. He is one of the pioneers in civil rights litigation and for decades has been a champion for the rights of victims of police abuse . In 1994, President Clinton nominated Paz for a U.S. federal court judgeship in the Central District of California. After administration officials assured him the confirmation was going smoothly, he made the difficult choice to close his law office, only to have his nomination derailed in large part by Senator Orrin Hatch and law enforcement groups. He is also past president and longtime member of the ACLU board.
NBC "West Wing" creator Aaron Sorkin will participate in the program. Jazz great Herbie Hanock will perform at the event along with Don Was, Jude Christodal and Jill Sobule.
Billy Crystal and California State Assembly Speaker, Herb Wessen, Jr. will also attend.
Former California Supreme Court Associate Justice Cruz Reynoso to Present Attorney R. Samuel Paz With The 2002 Eason Monroe Courageous Advocate Award.
For ticket information contact Meegan Ochs at (877) 225-8487, tickets start $150. Proceeds from this event fund the ACLU of Southern California’s watchdog efforts to protect the freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and Bill of Rights.
Journalists interested in covering the event should contact the ACLU/SC Media Relations office.
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