ACLU Communications Director to speak at ECC Oct. 26

Elgin Community College will host "Current Threats to Civil Liberties in America," a presentation by Ed Yohnka, communications director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26, in the college's Spartan Auditorium in Building G of 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. The presentation is free and open to the public.

"The past few months have presented numerous challenges to established rights, privileges and truths long held to be self-evident," said Antonio Ramirez, instructor of history & political science at ECC. "This program will include a survey of the most pressing issues of today with time for an audience Q&A session afterwards."

According to its website, the ACLU of Illinois and its affiliated Roger Baldwin Foundation, are non-partisan, nonprofit organizations dedicated to protecting the liberties guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, the state Constitution and state and federal human rights laws.

"As one of the state's most important advocates, Ed Yohnka can help students and community members understand what our rights are and how we can defend them," Ramirez also said. Yohnka is the ACLU of Illinois' primary spokesperson and regularly appears on national radio and television programs.

The event is sponsored by The League of Women Voters of the Elgin Area along with ECC's Department of Political Science, Department of Student Life, Multicultural and Global Initiatives Committee (MAGIC) and Student Government. Members of the community who are interested in learning more are highly encouraged to attend.

For information, contact Antonio Ramirez, ECC Instructor of History & Political Science, at anramirez@elgin.edu.