The Response , June 18, 2009. In recognition of June as Torture Awareness Month, the ACLU and Amnesty International hosted a showing of The Response in Charleston. The film is a 30-minute, critically acclaimed courtroom drama based on the actual transcripts of the Guantanamo Bay military tribunals. Awards include the 2009 American Bar Association Silver Gavel Award as "Best of the Year in Drama & Literature" and the Audience Award for Best Film at the Politics on Film Festival in Washington, DC. The film was followed with a talk by noted defense attorney Andy Savage. Andy has been co-counsel on the case of Ali Al-Marri with Jon Hafetz of ACLU’s National Security Project. His account of Al-Marri’s six years of detention in the Charleston Naval brig – much of it in total isolation – brought home the real meaning of ‘lack of due process’ and the cruelty of mental and physical torture.

If you are interested in working with us on organizing a showing of The Response in your community, please contact Jan Landry for more information.

Advocacy Day, May 16, 2009! Over 50 enthusiastic ACLU supporters took part in our grassroots activism training held at The Citadel in Charleston, SC. Jeani Murray, National Field Director, and Cyndi Lucas, Regional Organizer, from the Washington, DC Legislative Office, conducted the full-day, hands-on session designed to help individuals bring about positive change on important civil liberties and civil rights issues. The Political Science and Criminal Justice Department at The Citadel co-sponsored the workshop, which focused on media outreach and advocacy skills. We look forward to bringing the workshop to other cities in our state. If you would like to arrange for activist training in your area, please contact us at info@aclusouthcarolina.org.

Unlawful Detention – February 25-26, 2009.  On February 25th and 26th, we partnered with the Charleston School of Law and the University of South Carolina School of Law to host talks by Jonathan Hafetz, senior attorney with the ACLU National Security Project.  Mr. Hafetz focuses on post-September 11 detention issues, government secrecy and immigrant’s rights.

Religion in the Public Square – March 16, 2009. Dr. Jeremy Gunn, Director of the ACLU Freedom of Religion and Belief Program spoke at the College of Charleston on “Religion in the Public Square.”  Following Dr. Gunn’s talk, Adam Parker of the Charleston Post and Courier led a panel discussion with Dr. Gunn; Elijah Siegler, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at the College of Charleston; Reverend Steve Wood of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Mount Pleasant; and Colin Kerr, director of Christian Education at Second Presbyterian Church of Charleston.  Over 100 people attended this event!  On March 17, Dr. Gunn spoke at the University of South Carolina School of Law in Columbia.