Penny Adams is a social worker and a volunteer with the AFSC Film and Video Library, AFSC-NERO.
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The American Civil Liberties Union's Freedom Files [5] stands out as the outstanding film series of the year. A few highlights:
Stop the Abuse of Power, DVD, 2006, 12 mins. The film touches on the policy of secret rendition, Guantánamo, dossiers on citizens, the infiltration of peace groups, the tapping of private phone calls, the monitoring of library usage, and the scanning of phone records.
Dissent, DVD, 2005, 30 mins. This American Civil Liberties film exhibits events of peaceful dissent since 9/11. At the Republican 2004 Convention in NYC 1800 protestors were unfairly arrested, as well as 50-60 people detained in holding center cages for 28 ? hours. The film ends with a peaceful rally in Oakland, CA broken-up by police who shot wooden bullets into the crowd.
Youth Speak, DVD, 2006, 25 mins. The film features students who took their free speech and educational rights cases to court -- and won.
Gay and Lesbian Rights, DVD, 2006, 25 mins. Two men in Maryland lovingly raised three children from the foster care system, but only one man was recognized as the legal parent. When one member of a long-term committed lesbian couple died, her parents wanted custody of the kids, and the non-legal parent had to fight in court for care of the children.