McHenry church to offer 'Effective Activism With the ACLU' April 26

Edwin C. Yonhka, communications director of the Illinois American Civil Liberties Union, will present a program and lead discussion at an open meeting from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 26, at the Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 5603 Bull Valley Road in McHenry.

In the program "Effective Activism With the ACLU," Yonhka will provide a briefing on what is going on in the nation and the state as well as discuss ways people can get involved and support the ACLU's efforts.

He will concentrate on key issues on the federal legislative calendar, including continuing efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act and the impact of those efforts on women's reproductive health and services to people with disabilities; the so-called "Religious Freedom" bills, which would effectively sanction discrimination against the LGBTQ community and minority religions; and congressional and independent oversight of the executive branch, particularly in relation to investigations of Russian interference in the 2016 campaign.

There will be discussion of how to approach Congress members on these issues when they return to their districts during upcoming recesses May 8-12 and May 29-June 2.

Yonhka has held his position at the ACLU in June 1999. He serves as a primary spokesperson for the civil rights advocacy organization and appears regularly on television and radio programs in Illinois and throughout the nation. Yohnka also is widely cited in newspapers and publications on legal and legislative matters related to the ACLU of Illinois' priorities. Previously he served on the staff of the American Bar Association, spending most of that time as a Special Presidential Assistant in the ABA's Office of the President.

The program is sponsored by the Tree of Life Social Justice Team and is free and open to the public.

For information, contact the church office at (815) 322-2464 or office@treeoflifeuu.org. Visit treeoflifeuu.org.