July 29, 2009 – Tonight, the New York Civil Liberties Union, joined by dozens of civil rights organizations, will sponsor a civil rights debate at New York Law School featuring the five candidates vying for the New York City public advocate’s office.
Daily News columnist Juan Gonzalez will moderate the debate, the city’s first-ever public advocate forum to focus exclusively on civil rights and liberties issues, including the aggressive policing of the city’s schools and the NYPD’s racially skewed stop and frisk practices. The public advocate, who effectively serves as a government watchdog for all New Yorkers, is at the center of these challenging and controversial issues.
Joining the NYCLU on the debate’s host committee are Common Cause New York, Drum Major Institute, Justice Action Center at New York Law School and New York Public Interest Research Group. Twenty civil rights organizations, representing a diverse collection of communities and interests, have endorsed the event.
On Tuesday, Aug. 4, the NYCLU and its partnering organizations will host a civil rights forum for mayoral candidates. Also at New York Law School, it will be moderated by investigative journalist and WNYC city hall reporter Bob Hennelly. Both events will be ASL interpreted.
The NYCLU is a non-partisan organization and does not endorse candidates for public office.
What:
Civil rights debate featuring all five candidates for public advocate
When:
Tuesday, July 28, 7 p.m. No RSVP required.
Where:
New York Law School, 57 Worth St. in Tribeca
Who:
Juan Gonzalez, award-winning Daily News columnist and moderator
Bill de Blasio, candidate
Eric Gioia, candidate
Mark Green, candidate
Norman Siegel, candidate
Alex Zablocki, candidate
This event will be ASL interpreted.