American Civil Liberties Union

There has never been a more urgent need to preserve fundamental privacy protections and our system of checks and balances than the need we face today, as illegal government spying, provisions of the Patriot Act and government-sponsored torture programs transcend the bounds of law and our most treasured values in the name of national security.


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Freedom Files - Season 2
Ideological Exclusion

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ACLU TV Ad "Classroom" (7/15/2003)

We are inside a classroom filled with 12- & 13-year-old kids, various ethnicities. We see overhead project with the words "THE BILL OF RIGHTS."   The Teacher enters frame and begins the lesson.

TEACHER:
"Are there any questions?  Yes, Hayley."

STUDENT #1 (GIRL)
"I heard Congress just passed a law that allows government agents to secretly search your house and not even tell you."

TEACHER:
"That's true..."

The Teacher begins to try and explain.

STUDENT  #2 (GIRL)
"Wait a second... What about the Bill of Rights?"

The Teacher is having a tough time...tries to continue.

TEACHER:
"Well it still..."

Then the classroom starts to bandwagon...

STUDENT #3 (BOY)
"Protects us?"

The Teacher is still having a hard time and still not able to answer the students' questions.

TEACHER:
"Yes, but..."

STUDENT #4 (GIRL)
"Not anymore?"

TEACHER:
"It's ... complicated."

STUDENT #5 (GIRL)
"We still have free speech, don't we?"

TEACHER:
"You see..."

STUDENT #6 (BOY)
"And fair trials?"

STUDENT #7 (BOY)
"And freedom of religion?"

No answer from the teacher who's starting to fall apart not simply being able to answer these questions.

STUDENT #8 (GIRL)
"What about racial profiling?"

The Teacher is losing it.

TEACHER:
"We have that."

A collective groan from the class.  Beat.

STUDENT #9 (BOY):
"I don't understand...  Who's defending our constitution then?"

A blank look from the teacher as we cut to the card for the ACLU.

FADE UP: ACLU Plaque

ACLU V/O: The ACLU. Because freedom can't protect itself.



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