DENVER – ACLU of Colorado will host its first-ever virtual Bill of Rights Event on Thursday, October 1, at 6 p.m. Although the annual event is shifting to a virtual platform, this year’s program will continue to honor the event’s legacy of celebrating community leaders, commemorating civil rights and civil liberties successes, and educating our community of donors, activists, and partners. Registration is free and Spanish and ASL interpretation will be available.
This year’s event promises to be impactful and inspirational with a special keynote conversation between CeCe McDonald, a transgender activist working to dismantle the prison industrial complex, and Elisabeth Epps, founder of the Colorado Freedom Fund, prison abolitionist, and ACLU of Colorado’s Smart Justice Organizer.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to hear from Dr. Apryl Alexander, Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Denver and a community organizer with Black Lives Matter 5280. Dr. Alexander is a plaintiff in ACLU of Colorado’s lawsuit against the City and County of Denver on behalf of people injured by police while protesting the police killings of Black men and women.
At the event, ACLU of Colorado will present Reverend Dr. Timothy Tyler and Dr. Nita Mosby Tyler with the Carle Whitehead Memorial Award. The award honors their steadfast fight against racism, misogyny, homophobia, and economic injustice. Together, Dr. Tyler and Dr. Mosby Tyler launched Race Talk University, a nine-week course educating attendees on how to lead conversations about racism and white supremacy in their communities. Casa de Paz will receive the Ralph L. Carr Award for its outstanding work supporting detained immigrants and their families. Since 2012, Casa de Paz has provided shelter, meals, transportation, and support to individuals and families experiencing immigration detention at no cost.
The event will close with a special performance from Denver-based singer-songwriter Nathaniel Rateliff. As an outspoken critic of Greenwood Village's resolution to undermine Colorado's recently-passed police accountability bill, Rateliff has promised he will not perform at the city's Fiddler's Green amphitheater until the resolution is reversed.
All funds raised by the event provide crucial support to sustain and expand ACLU of Colorado’s legal, communication and education work throughout Colorado.
“This event is our opportunity to join together as a community of activists, supporters, and change-makers to sustain the ACLU of Colorado today and in the future. Although I wish we could gather in person, I hope the virtual format will make the event more accessible for people across the state,” said Rachel Pryor-Lease, Director of Philanthropy.
A special thank you to our event’s Change-Maker sponsors, Herbert Teitelbaum and Ruth J. Abram, and Susan Stark and Bob Connelly. Their support is crucial in our ongoing fight to protect civil rights and civil liberties for all people.
EVENT DETAILS:
WHAT: A virtual platform honoring community leaders, commemorating civil rights and civil liberties successes and educating our community of donors, activists, and partners.
WHERE:Live stream in English via YouTube and Spanish interpretation available via Zoom. Register for the event in English here and in Spanish here.
WHEN: Thursday, October 1 at 6 p.m.
WHO: Speakers will include:
CeCe McDonald, a transgender activist
Elisabeth Epps, ACLU of Colorado’s Smart Justice Organizer
Dr. Apryl Alexander, Associate Professor of Psychology at DU and a community organizer with Black Lives Matter 5280
Honorees will include:
Reverend Dr. Timothy Tyler and Dr. Nita Mosby Tyler receiving the Carle Whitehead Memorial Award and Casa de Paz receiving the Ralph L. Carr Award
Special musical performance by Nathanial Rateliff
RESOURCES:
All are encouraged to join us for this free event by registering at: https://action.aclu.org/webform/co-2020-bill-of-rights-rsvp.
Tax-deductible sponsorship donations range from $250 to $7,500 and can be completed at https://action.aclu.org/event/co-2020-bill-of-rights-event-sponsor.
To make a general donation to support this event and all the ACLU of Colorado’s work visit https://action.aclu.org/give/co-support-bill-of-rights-event-2020.
Please contact Susie Simmons, Development Coordinator, at (303) 402- 3127 or [email protected] with any questions.
###
The ACLU of Colorado is the state’s oldest civil rights organization, protecting and defending the civil rights of all Coloradans through litigation, education and advocacy.