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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