ACLU to Honor Donald Passman and Frank Darabont at Torch of Liberty Gala on July 12
Thursday, July 6, 2000
LOS ANGELES – Each year the ACLU Foundation of Southern California presents its Torch of Liberty Awards at a gala dinner honoring individuals who have made a significant contribution to the advancement of civil rights and civil liberties. This year, the ACLU will proudly present its 2000 Torch of Liberty Award to entertainment attorney and civil libertarian Donald S. Passman, and writer/director Frank Darabont. Actress Maria Bello, who played Dr. Ana Del Amico on ER, will emcee the event.
"The Torch of Liberty was created to acknowledge the contributions made by individuals from the media and the arts and entertainment industry whose creative work affirms the democratic principles that underlie the promise of 'liberty and justice for all,'" said Ramona Ripston, Executive Director of the ACLU of Southern California. "Don Passman and Frank Darabont have each made lasting contributions to our understanding of freedom."
As a prominent entertainment industry attorney for over two decades, Donald Passman has guided the careers of some of the most popular artists in the world. His book, All You Need to Know About the Music Business, in its 20th printing, continues to empower and guide individual musicians and other involved in the industry. As a civil libertarian, he has served on the ACLU Foundation Board of Directors since 1995. Passman has also served on the board of City of Hope's music industry chapter for over a decade. His efforts have greatly increased the medical center's ability to fight cancer, HIV, and other life-threatening diseases through prevention, treatment, and research – and to strengthen patients' rights and the rights of those with HIV disease.
Through his films, director Frank Darabont has opened hearts and minds to an array of issues central to the work of the ACLU. The Shawshank Redemption raised the essential questions of rehabilitation, prisoners' rights, and fairness in the judicial system. In The Green Mile, Darabont challenged his audience to consider religion, spirituality, and the death penalty. Equal justice, prisoners' rights, the death penalty, and abuse of authority in the criminal justice system -- all issues central to the work of the ACLU -- are given voice in his powerful words, vivid images, and fully fleshed-out characters.
Maria Bello, in addition to her acting, has been a tireless advocate on behalf of children across the world, from America's urban areas, to Nicaragua and southern Africa.
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