The local chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) will celebrate its 50th anniversary Thursday evening with hors d’oeuvres and cake at its annual membership meeting.
The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. in the downstairs social hall at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 421 S. Farwell St. Members and friends are invited to share the celebration, which will look both back at the past 50 years “and to the future and the work we do at a time when our civil liberties seem to be very much under attack,” according to the group’s newsletter.
The history of the Chippewa Valley Civil Liberties Union will be one item on the agenda for the business meeting.
The local group’s meeting will be followed at 7 p.m. by the state ACLU’s annual membership meeting, to be held in the sanctuary one floor above. Emilio De Torre, director of community engagement for the state organization since 2006, will be the featured speaker.
De Torre’s talk will focus on “Resisting Trump’s Assaults on Immigration, LGBTQ Rights and Free Speech.” Before joining the ACLU staff, he was a public school teacher at PS 287 in Brooklyn, NY and as the Director of Education Services for 15,000 young people in the Madison Square Boys and Girls Clubs.
The public is welcome to attend the state ACLU meeting, including De Torre’s talk. The state meeting was scheduled for Eau Claire in honor of the local group’s 50th anniversary.