The former military analyst who released the “Pentagon Papers” will headline the ACLU of Utah’s 50th Anniversary Benefit Dinner.

April 14, 2008 – SALT LAKE CITY – Dr. Daniel Ellsberg, the former RAND Corporation analyst and Marine Corps commander, caused a national political uproar in 1971 when he released the “Pentagon Papers,” a top-secret study of the government decision-making during the Vietnam War. He will be in Salt Lake City on May 8 to speak to 500 supporters and members of the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah, as part of the organization’s 50th Anniversary Bill of Rights Celebration.

Dr. Ellsberg, who faced twelve felony counts and a prison sentence of 115 years for his whistle-blowing, now travels across the country and world asserting the critical importance of truth-telling in government. He is the founder of the Truth-Telling Project, which encourages whistle-blowing in the national interest. His address, “Our Constitutional Crisis,” will draw parallels between the atmosphere of government secrecy during the Vietnam War and under the current administration.

Dr. Ellsberg appears as part of a fundraising dinner for the ALCU of Utah, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Many important players from the ACLU of Utah’s past will also be in attendance, including: fiery former executive director MICHELE PARISH; former board president and erstwhile Salt Lake City Mayor ROCKY ANDERSON; STEPHEN SMOOT, one of the original founding members of the ACLU of Utah; KATE KENDALL, the ACLU of Utah’s first staff attorney, now director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights; and ROBYN BLUMNER, who led the ACLU of Utah during the late 1980s and is now a syndicated columnist for the St. Petersburg Times of Florida.

The event takes place on Thursday, May 8, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Sheraton City Centre. More information can be found at www.acluutah.org/BOR08.htm.

Dr. Ellsberg will be available for phone interviews prior to the event. Please contact Anna Brower, ACLU of Utah Development Director (information above), to arrange contact with Dr. Ellsberg.

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