432 N. Saginaw Street, Flint
Thursday, May 29, 2008
* ONLINE TICKET SALES ARE NOW OVER. PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS AT THE DOOR THIS EVENING *
Join the ACLU of Michigan Greater Flint Branch to honor two people who stood up for their rights and the First Amendment!
6:00 p.m. - Cocktail Reception
7:00 p.m. - Dinner
8:00 p.m. - Program and Award Ceremony
Tickets are $25.00 with a cash bar. Purchase tickets below now to ensure your seat!
2008 Honorees: Tom Hansen and Joseph Hanas
Tom Hansen was a contract carrier for the Flint Journal. Hansen proved that you can fight City Hall. Tom was arrested because he delivered the Flint Journal to his subscribers at Flint City Hall in defiance of Mayor Williamson's ban against newspapers, and Williamson's order that Tom disclose his subscribers names. ACLU cooperating attorneys successfully represented Tom in a suit resulting in an opinion finding the Mayor's actions violated Hansen's rights.
Joe Hanas, a practicing Catholic, was punished with a felony conviction because he objected to placement in a Pentecostal drug treatment program requiring him to engage in religious practices contrary to his religious beliefs. Joe asked the ACLU to pursue legal proceedings to vindicate his constitutional right to freely express his religion. These proceedings resulted in an opinion declaring these practices in violation of the free exercise and establishment clauses of the U.S. Constitution.
