The ACLU of Utah’s 55th Sparkling Emerald Anniversary Bill of Rights Celebration was a splashing success! This year, nearly 300 guests enjoyed coffee, breakfast, and free Mimosas and Bloody Marys while chatting with friends and fellow supporters about protecting civil liberties in Utah.
The morning kicked off with a video featuring ACLU of Utah plaintiffs who shared their struggles against oppressive state laws, including HB 461 (a law mandating a 72-hour waiting period for women seeking abortions), and HB 497 (Utah’s version of Arizona’s “Show me your papers” law), which, thankfully, the ACLU of Utah has helped block for two years!
Executive Director Karen McCreary presented the 2013 Torch of Freedom Award to the Salt Lake Dream Team, a group of courageous students who have exposed their undocumented immigrant status in pursuit of immigration reform. Attendees also heard from Tina Weber, the ACLU of Utah plaintiff who successfully sued the Davis School District for the return of In Our Mothers’ House, a charming children’s book about a same-sex parent family, to elementary school library shelves in Davis County.
2013 Youth Activist Scholarship recipients Liesl Darger, Eliza Grainger, and Sheila Lazcano accepted awards honoring their advocacy for religious freedom, comprehensive sex education, and expanding educational opportunities for immigrants, respectively.
Thank you to all who participated, including our amazing volunteers. We look forward to defending civil liberties in Utah for another 55 years!
Many more pictures can be found on our facebook page >>
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