The ACLU of Eastern
Missouri is kicking off our 2008 National Directors' Series on
Wednesday April 2 with National Racial Justice Program Director Dennis
Parker.

His keynote address will
be: Affirmative Action: What's at Stake for Missouri and
America

Currently there is a
movement to amend the Missouri State Constitution to ban affirmative
action through a proposed initiative aiming for the November 2008
election ballot. This initiative comes cloaked in the language of
Martin Luther King and the civil rights movement, but in reality, it
is an attack on affirmative action policies that have benefited women
and minorities who would otherwise be locked out of higher education,
business contracts, and other public resources.  Anti-affirmative
action ballot initiatives are creations of the so-called national
"American Civil Rights Initiative," and they have been successful so
far in California, Michigan, and Washington State. Now, the ACRI has
targeted Missouri, along with Arizona, Colorado, Nebraska, and
Oklahoma.  Can they be stopped?  Does affirmative action
still comprise an effective and critical a set of social policies? 
This session explores both questions and
more. 

The event takes place
on Wednesday April 2 at 6:30pm at the offices of the ACLU of
Eastern Missouri 454 Whittier Street (just south of Olive in the
Gaslight Square).  Map link [1]

This event is FREE and
open to the public.

RSVPs are encouraged as
seating is limited.

314-652-3114 ext 23 or
email scott@aclu-em.org [2]

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=11610587003&ref=mf [3]

See attached flyer for
details.