Current Issues Underscore Significance Of Greater Houston Civil Rights Conference March 31

March 28, 2012 8:43 am

Civil Rights Conference Headliner Available for Pre-Conference Interview

Oscar Chacon, Executive Director of the National Alliance for Latin American and Caribbean Communities (NALACC); is in Houston prior to Saturday conference.

To schedule interview, contact Teodoro Aguiluz; 281-658-8201.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Dotty Griffith, Public Education Director, ACLU Foundation of Texas; (713) 942-8146 x 103 or (832) 291-4776;

[email protected]

Deaths Of Trayvon Martin And Beaten Iraqi Mother In San Diego Are Extreme Examples Of Need For Civil Rights Dialogue In America

HOUSTON – Civil rights issues, such as those raised in the Trayvon Martin and

Shaima Alawadi cases, emphasize the timeliness of a forum “like this one,” said David Atwood of the Houston Peace and Justice Center (HPJC) and the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (TCADP). “On Saturday, we will address the important issues facing our community today. These issues impact the daily lives of all of us in one way or another.”

*Civic engagement organizations – representing a broad spectrum of interests and communities – are sponsoring the day-long program featuring speakers and discussion of issues related to:

  • civil liberties post 9/11 and Islamophobia;
  • immigrants’ rights;
  • criminal justice reform and racial profiling.

Acclaimed journalist Amy Goodman, host and executive producer of

Democracy Now! that airs nationally on public television and radio stations, will be the keynote speaker.

The program will also feature Oscar Chacon, Executive Director of the National Alliance for Latin American and Caribbean Communities (NALACC); Corey Saylor, Legislative Director of the nation’s largest Muslim civil liberties group, the Council of American Islamic Relations (CAIR); and Brent Wilkes, National Executive Director of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC).

What: “Civil Rights in the 21st Century: Uniting Communities for Justice”
When: March 31, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Houston Community College – West Loop Campus Auditorium, 5601 West Loop South, Houston 77081
Registration and Information: http://civilrightscoalition.wordpress.com/

“This is a historic gathering of a broad range of groups coming together in the name of civil rights and justice,” said Mustafaa Carroll, Executive Director the Houston chapter of CAIR.

Program Schedule


8:30 Introduction: Mustafaa Carroll (CAIR Texas – Houston Chapter)

Civil Rights Overview: Oscar Chacon (Executive Director of the National Alliance of Latin American & Caribbean Communities)

9:30 Break

9:40 Understanding Civil Rights Post 9/11

  • Moderator: Mustafaa Carroll (CAIR Texas – Houston Chapter)

  • Islamophobia: Corey Saylor (CAIR)

  • National Security/Privacy Issues: Matt Simpson (ACLU of Texas)

  • Right to protest/free speech: Rick Halperin (SMU)


11:10 Break

11:20 Immigrants’ Rights

  • Moderator: Baldo Garza (LULAC)

  • Detention/Deportation: Krystal Gomez (ACLU of Texas)

  • Immigration Reform: Brent Wilkes (LULAC)

  • Local/State/Federal Enforcement and Prosecutorial Discretion/Immigration Courts/Federal Court: Geoff Hoffman (UH Law Center Immigration Clinic)


12:50 Lunch and Tribute to Caesar Chavez: Frank Curiel

1:30 Criminal Justice Reform

  • Moderator: Tarsha Jackson (Texas Families for Incarcerated Youth)

  • Over- Incarceration: Ana Yáñez-Correa (Texas Criminal Justice Coalition)

  • School-to-Prison Pipeline/Bullying: Gislaine Williams (ACLU of Texas)

  • Private Prisons: Bob Libal (Grassroots Leadership)

  • Death Penalty: Dave Atwood (HPJC/TCADP)


3:00 Break

3:10 Keynote address and Q & A: Amy Goodman, host and executive producer of

Democracy Now !

4:10 Networking Mixer and Discussion of Next Steps as a Community

5:00 Conference Adjourns

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*American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Texas; Black Heritage Society; Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Texas - Houston Chapter; Central American Resource Center (CARECEN); Houston Interfaith Workers Justice Center; Houston Peace and Justice Center (HPJC); Houston United - Houston Unido; League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC); National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP); Shades of White; Texas Criminal Justice Coalition (TCJP); Texas Families of Incarcerated Youth; Think Peace International Inc.; Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (TCADP); KPFT Radio