Maplewood Ideas Festival: The ACLU and American Life

April 24, 2023 @ 7:00 pm

From Brown v. Board to Roe v. Wade, from free speech to criminal justice to immigrants’ rights, from interracial marriage to same-sex marriage, there is no question that the ACLU has had an enormous impact on American society over the last 103 years of its existence.

This discussion will survey the history of the ACLU, its successes, and the impact the ACLU of New Jersey has made in communities like Maplewood, across the state, and the country. The panel will also explore critical issues including access to reproductive freedom for all, policing and bias, decarceration, racial justice, voting rights, and the power of advocacy. Importantly, the panel will also discuss the evolution of the ACLU itself, including the challenges and opportunities the organization has faced and continues to face, and the ways in which it is called upon to meet the moment in the most crucial times.

Moderator Robert Marchman, Senior Policy Advisor on Diversity and Inclusion, Securities and Exchange Commission. Panelists include:

  • ACLU-NJ Executive Director Amol Sinha
  • Director of People & Culture Rhea Beck
  • Director of Supreme Court Advocacy Alexander Shalom
  • Board Member Alexis Karteron