PETERBOROUGH --- During first week in September, as the House and Senate versions of the Patriot Act go to conference to create a final bill to be presented to President Bush, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and award-winning producer/director Robert Greenwald will commence an unprecedented new 10-part series entitled The ACLU Freedom Files. The series premier episode, "Beyond The Patriot Act," will be screened on Wednesday, September 7th at 7:00 pm at the Peterborough Unitarian Universalist Church, located at 25 Main Street in Peterborough.

"Beyond The Patriot Act” highlights the importance of this legislation and urges members of Congress to take the time to act sensibly and bring the law back in line with the Constitution by restoring proper checks and balances.

The ACLU Freedom Files, in ten 30-minute episodes, will explore pressing issues that are threatening the civil liberties of all Americans, regardless of political affiliation. “As we experienced in Peterborough Town Meeting a few years ago, interest in the civil liberties issue extends beyond party politics” said John Friede, who helped to spearhead the successful town resolution in defense of the bill of rights and organized the screening.

Robert Greenwald, executive producer of the series, said "These are regular people, people who could be a neighbor, who have found themselves fighting to defend their constitutionally-guaranteed rights. These are important and powerful stories that we need to tell."

The ACLU Freedom Files will air the second Thursday of each month across the country at 8:00 p.m. Series topics will include the Patriot Act, the Supreme Court, free speech and dissent, religious freedom, gay and lesbian rights, drug policy, racial profiling, women's rights, and youth freedoms. The shows will reach millions of viewers via satellite network Link TV, on college campuses across the country on Zilo TV, and via other new media sources, and grassroots means. More information on the series can be found at http://www.aclu.tv.

The event is sponsored by the Congregation’s Social Justice Committee and New Hampshire Faithful Democracy. The program is free and open to the public.


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