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Tue, 02/21/2006 - 6:00pm

Film and Panel Discussion
Join the ACLU, Right to Vote, the Brennan Center for Justice and Demos, for a screening and panel discussion concerning Democracy's Ghosts: How 5 Million Americans Have Lost the Right to Vote.

Produced by the ACLU and Off Ramp Films, Democracy's Ghosts takes you on a journey into the lives of disfranchised Americans, showing how the loss of this fundamental democratic right has a devastating impact on these citizens, the communities they live in and, ultimately, society itself. After seeing the film, you will never again question whether you're too busy to go to the polling booth. And you'll want to act to make sure everyone can vote. From the cradle of the civil rights movement in Selma, Alabama to the hallowed halls of an Ivy League college, "Democracy's Ghosts" spends time with people who are living their lives as legal ghosts because of felony convictions. Their stories are complemented and enriched by interviews with experts and well-known personalities, among them evangelist Chuck Colson, actor Charles Dutton, civil rights icon Congressman John Lewis and Harvard Professor Lani Guinier.

For Brooklyn's progressive Democrats, there is no political race this year more important than in the 11th District to succeed Congressman Major Owens.

We have an opportunity to elect someone who is courageous, bright, compassionate, articulate, a good listener, and a very good friend to us all – Chris Owens. Chris is right on the issues that we care about, and he is the ONLY one of the five declared candidates who has shown the foresight and the guts to oppose Bruce Ratner’s Atlantic Yards development scheme. Anybody who saw him debate his four opponents at the Lambda Independent Democrats meeting last month can tell you that no candidate is more outstanding than Chris Owens.

But Chris cannot get to Congress without our help. That’s why I’m inviting you to join Chris and his staff for a short get-together at Magnetic Field on Tuesday, February 21, at 7:00 pm. Chris will give a short speech and then answer any questions you may have for him. Please come out to see what you can do to help elect Chris, and please bring your checkbooks.

Magnetic Field (that's where we used to host the Howard Dean meetups) is located at 97 Atlantic Avenue (between Henry & Hicks Streets).

Directions: Take the 2, 3, 4, or 5 train to Borough Hall, or the R or M to Court Street, and then walk down Court to Atlantic Avenue (4-6 blocks) and turn right and walk 2-3 blocks. Or take the F or G to Bergen Street, walk up Smith Street and turn left onto Atlantic and walk 3-4 blocks. And if you're coming from Williamsburg or Greenpoint, take the B61 Bus to Atlantic and get off near Magnetic Field.

Please RSVP. I hope to see you there. Bring all of your friends. If you can't attend, please make a contribution.