Next Tuesday (6/26/07) is an
ACLU Day of Action. These are the demands: "We the people demand that Congress hold this administration accountable for its actions and demand the restoration of habeas corpus and all our constitutional rights." Pretty simple, eh? Between the ACLU and other groups 140,000 signatures have been collected. And they are going to deliver those signatures in DC on Tuesday.
Add yours here.
But if you can't make it to DC to participate,
there are events in many cities across the country. In SF it's at the London Wine Bar in the Fugazy building at 413 Sansome Street. Attendees will get a free drink for writing a letter to their member of congress. 6-9pm. While you guys are whooping it up at the bar, I'll be out knocking on doors and interrupting dinner.
Got to do that in suburbia tonight. Nice cars out there. Well watered lawns, and wide, tree covered streets with prominently marked bike paths. Met a few superduper oldskool ACLUers. One woman first joined in 1947. Another cool old dude was already a member, but still decided to help out again tonight. Unfortunately most of the parental middle-agers I encountered, behind the threshold of their castles, were too busy with their lives to chat for a few moments.
There were two great lines of the night for me. The first was from a harried woman who opened the door and told me "I don't have time. My bird is flying around in here and I just... don't have time," before quickly shutting the door in my face. The second was from a Dad playing with his 2 kids in the street. He said, "Whatever it is, I'm sure I'm not interested." And when I told him I was from the ACLU, he proved himself right.
The contrasts in this neighborhood were fascinating. On the one hand there were many who could could not care less about what I was talking about. And then on the other hand there were a few with a long-time commitment to the ACLU, and a deep knowledge its
amazing accomplishments.
My liberty mojo was off tonight. I think suburbia tweaked me a little bit. Next time, they're mine.