July 24, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
media@aclu.org
Fully Translated into Spanish and Arabic, Two-Disc Set Available
July
25
Ten Episodes Addressing the Critical Civil Rights Issues of
the Day and Featuring Real Clients and the Attorneys Who Represent
Them
NEW YORK -- Through
a mix of interviews, documentary footage, re-creations, comedy, drama, music and
animation,
The ACLU Freedom Files strips away the sound bites to reveal how
civil liberties affect real people everyday, regardless of political
affiliation. As the series is released on DVD tomorrow, the ACLU announces its
full translation into both Spanish and Arabic.
"We created this
series to take our message directly to the American people," said ACLU Executive
Director Anthony D. Romero "We want to bring them face to face with the
individuals behind the headlines and show that the fight to protect our hard-won
freedoms is a constant struggle."
The first season explores
a broad range of topics, many of particular interest to Spanish and Arabic
speaking communities. Shows that will have particular resonance with a Spanish
speaking audience are those about voting and women's rights. Of specific
interest to an Arabic speaking audience are episodes on the Patriot Act and
religious freedom. Both language groups will find much to discuss in the racial
profiling episode. Of interest to everyone in America are the episodes on the
Supreme Court, free speech and dissent, gay and lesbian rights, drug policy, and
youth freedoms. The stories are told by those who have had to fight for their
rights and the attorneys who represent them.
"Not only is the ACLU
highlighting topics and issues that desperately need to be addressed, but they
are doing it in an entirely new way," said Robert Greenwald, Executive Producer
of the The ACLU Freedom Files. "The ACLU is the first non-profit of its kind to
have a series on television. And with the DVD release of The ACLU Freedom Files,
we're reaching the general public like never before."
Since the
series debut, the ACLU has enlisted its most devoted supporters to help broaden
the audience for
The ACLU Freedom Files. A nationwide network of activists-from
librarians, educators and students to members of neighborhood associations and
other concerned citizens-is bringing this important educational series to
community centers, schools and living rooms across the country, and spreading
the word through e-mail and the Web.
The ACLU Freedom Files airs
monthly on Court TV, as part of the network's "In Pursuit of Justice"
programming, through November. A companion Web site,
www.aclu.tv, provides digital trailers for each of
the episodes, expanded information on the issues along with blogs, interactive
games, podcasts, viewers' guides, and more. It also offers organizing tools to
Producers Club members -- "do-it-yourself" activists who organize screenings of
the programs and spread the word about the shows through blogs and e-mails.
The series features real clients and the attorneys who represent
them, as well as well-known actors, activists and comedians including Lewis
Black, Margaret Cho, Richard Belzer, Harry Shearer, Judy Gold, Noah Wyle, and
more.
Through the powerful combination of DVD, television and the
Internet, the ACLU and Greenwald hope
The ACLU Freedom Files will show millions
of Americans how critically important it is that we preserve our fundamental
freedoms. The set, which will also offer closed captioning for the hearing
impaired, will retail for $24.95.
DVD copies of
The ACLU Freedom
Files are available for review.
