VOICES OF DISSENT: ACTIVISM & AMERICAN DEMOCRACY

If you are appalled by what Bush is doing to America, outraged by his crimes against the Constitution and Bill of Rights and disturbed by the lies and deceit of his administration, join us for this screening. You will be in the company of like-minded people who want to know more and are ready to exchange ideas and action strategies on how to protect our rights and freedoms from the worst president in American history. 

VOICES OF DISSENT: ACTIVISM & AMERICAN DEMOCRACY features some of your favorite progressives: Martin Sheen, Woody Harrelson, Michael Franti, Al Franken, Medea Benjamin, Daniel Ellsberg, Will Durst, Jim Hightower, Norman Solomon, Joan Blades, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, and many more.

After the screening, join a discussion with filmmaker Karil Daniels, to talk about what we can do to fight Bush and protect authentic democracy. Get energized, get motivated, get involved and take back America!

This 42 minute documentary has been honored at 8 film festivals. Now we want to expand it to full feature length for national theatrical distribution. Proceeds from this benefit screening will go to support that expansion.

Admission: $8 General/$4 Students & Seniors

VOICES OF DISSENT focuses on the many people who are defending our American heritage of dissent and civil liberties and how they do it. Dissent informs our national dialog and points the way to our evolving democracy. As Americans, we must never forget that this country was born in dissent; it is in the DNA of the nation. Dissent is our heritage and must be vigorously protected and defended. 

\"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.\" -- Teddy Roosevelt

This event is co-sponsored by New College Center for Education and Social Action and the film is a sponsored project of the Film Arts Foundation, a non-profit organization.

Please tell your friend and colleagues about the screening and help us get the word out.

Download the poster/flyer artwork:
http://www.VoicesOfDissent.us/VOICES_poster_flyer.html
Please post and distribute it widely.

For full details on the film go to
http://www.VoicesOfDissent.us

See an 8-minute trailer at:
http://www.VoicesOfDissent.us/video/VODTrailer1.mpg

You can buy a VHS or DVD copy of VOICES OF DISSENT for only $19.95 + tax & p/h. It is great to use at house parties and for grassroots events. For ordering details see
http://www.VoicesOfDissent.us

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We know that Bush ordered spying on non-violent American citizens who disagree with him. He has also slipped a provision into the PATRIOT Act that would jail peaceful protestors. The PATRIOT Act re-authorization bill contains a vaguely worded provision that would allow protestors to be charged with a federal crime for demonstrating at \"National Special Security Events\" (NSSE), which are everything from the Republican and Democratic National Conventions, to the WTO and FTAA meetings, to the Olympics. The provision allows those who \"engage in disruptive or potentially dangerous conduct\" at these events to be charged with a federal crime and imprisoned for a year.

By pushing this provision Bush proves that he is unable to discriminate between real terrorists and peaceful anti-war activists who disagree with him. This is a clear violation of our Constitution.
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VOICE OF DISSENT uses event footage, theatre, dance, comedy, poetry, music, wisdom from our founding fathers and interviews with well-known personalities to remind us of the importance of protecting our democratic freedoms. It points out that anyone who tries to limit our rights of free speech, free assembly, dissent, or any other freedom granted to us in the Constitution and Bill of Rights is fundamentally anti-American, even if they happen to be our own leaders.

VOICES OF DISSENT explores

* How the Patriot Act conflicts with provisions of the Constitution and Bill of Rights

* Various forms of political activism and dissent, from theatrical performances (dance, comedy, satire, poetry, song) and massive group actions, to sole personal acts of dissent and defiance

* Shocking police brutality actions against peaceful anti-war demonstrators and the resulting injuries and subsequent public hearing into the police violence

* Memorable quotes from past presidents and other widely respected public figures about the nature of dissent and freedom in a true democracy

* The amazing creativity of dissenters at anti-war rallies and other actions, as they show their heartfelt opposition to Bush policies in a wide range of imaginative acts and expressions.

* The importance of motivating our friends, family, colleagues and the unengaged, to become actively involved in resisting the destruction of our freedoms.

VOICES Features:

MARTIN SHEEN
WOODY HARRELSON
DANIEL ELLSBERG, author of \"Secrets: A Memoir Of Vietnam And The Pentagon Papers\"
MEDEA BENJAMIN, Co-creator of Code Pink/Women For Peace and Global Exchange
JOAN BLADES, Co-founder of MoveOn.org
AL FRANKEN - actor/comedian and Air America Radio talk show host
WILL DURST, comedian and political satirist
BILL SANTIAGO,  comedian and political satirist
RENE HICKS, comedian
MICHAEL FRANTI - Spearhead
JIM HIGHTOWER, former Texas Agriculture Commissioner and author of \"Thieves In High Places: They\'ve Stolen Our Country And It\'s Time ToTake It Back\"
ARIANNA HUFFINGTON - columnist, political commentator and author of \"Fanatics & Fools: The Game Plan For Winning Back America
PAUL KRUGMAN, New York Times columnist and author of \"The Great Unraveling: Losing Our Way In The New Century\"
NORMAN SOLOMON, Executive Director of the Institute for Public Accuracy. Co-author of \"Target Iraq: What The News Media Didn\'t Tell You\"
KEVIN PHILLIPS - author of \"American Dynasty: Aristocracy, Fortune and The Politics Of Deceit In The House Of Bush\"
RON KOVIC, veteran, anti-war activist and author of \"Born on the 4th of July\"
WARREN LANGLEY, past president of the Pacific Stock Exchange and anti-war activist
HENRY NORR, technology writer fired by the SF Chronicle for being arrested at a peace rally
WILLIAM OSTERHOUDT, spokesman for the National Lawyers Guild
BARBARA LEE, U.S. Congresswoman - 9th District, Oakland, California
LIZ FIGUEROA, California State Senator
KEVIN SHELLEY, past California Secretary of State and voting rights activist
DREW DELLINGER, Spoken Word artist
STARHAWK, author and activist
SUSIE TOMPKINS-BUELL, founder of Esprit de Corp and voting activist
KATHRYN BLUME, actor and co-creator of The Lysistrata Project
JIM BRONKE, former weapons engineer and peace activist

VOICES OF DISSENT is an activist tool made to catalyze political discussions and actions, and bring more people into the mix. Please let your network of friends, family, colleagues know about this event.

If you’d like to get more involved, we welcome your talent and energy in various areas..

In this difficult political time the antidote to despair is involvement and action! 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Karil Daniels is a long-time activist film & video maker. She is a founding member of the Film Arts Foundation and a current member of the Board of Directors of Bay Area Women in Film and Television. Her past films, on topics of health alternatives, waterbirth, ecology and environment, women’s issues, sustainability and the arts, have won a total of 30 festival awards.

Contact info:
Karil Daniels • 415-821-0435 • karil@mac.com
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