A discussion of Social Justice in Cedar Rapids

CLARENCE DARROW’S SEARCH FOR JUSTICE

Price: Tickets: $10 in advance; $12 at the door
Date: Sunday, September 20, 2009
Time: 2:30pm - 5:30pm
Location: St. Paul’s United Methodist Church
Street: 1340 3rd Ave. SE

Gary Anderson, a nationally-renowned Darrow portrayer, will showcase “the most hated and celebrated lawyer in America.”“Darrow as a legal warrior, returning to engage our government and justice system in a presentation that trembles with inescapable timeliness.” He fought Creationism in public schools, racism, the death penalty, conspiracy laws, and attacks on civil liberties. “Anderson’s Darrow is in the same league as Holbrook’s Mark Twain.”At the end of the show, Civil Rights Commission Director Karl Cassell will present statistics on racial and economic issues in Cedar Rapids. Discussion to follow.

Sponsored by the:

• Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission
• St. Paul’s United Methodist Church
• The Peoples’ Church Unitarian Universalist Congregation.

This date in History: September 9

from Facebook: Cedar Rapids Civil Rights

Today in 1957: President Eisenhower signed into law the first civil rights bill
to pass Congress since Reconstruction. (Historical period of 1865 -1877) "The
act established the Commission on Civil Rights, a 6-member bipartisan commission
with the power to "investigate allegations .. that certain citizens are being
deprived of their right to vote" as well as to study other denials of equal
protection of the laws."

Civil Rights Act of 1957

"In 1957, President Eisenhower sent Congress a proposal for civil rights legislation. The result was the Civil Rights Act of 1957, the first civil rights legislation since Reconstruction. The new act established the Civil Rights Section of the Justice Department and empowered federal prosecutors to obtain court injunctions against interference with the right to vote. It also established a federal Civil Rights Commission with authority to investigate discriminatory conditions and recommend corrective measures. The final act was weakened by Congress due to lack of support among the Democrats." - Eisenhower Library

Have a safe and enjoyable Labor Day Weekend 2009!

Wishing everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend here in Cedar Rapids, Iowa USA or wherever you may be.