BOCA RATON – The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida will honor Congressman Alcee Hastings at its annual Nelson

Poynter Civil Liberties Award Dinner on May 7 in Boca Raton. The evening will feature a keynote address by Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold, the sole member of the U.S. Senate to vote against the controversial USA Patriot Act. “While most leaders in our current administration insist that we must sacrifice fundamental freedoms in order to fight terrorism,

Congressman Hastings has been an outspoken advocate for making our country both safe and free,” said Howard Simon, Executive Director of the ACLU of Florida.

The ACLU of Florida, chartered in 1965, will present Congressman Hastings with the Nelson Poynter Civil Liberties Award, the ACLU's highest honor, for his outstanding contribution to the advancement of civil rights and civil liberties. Congressman Hastings represents Florida's 23rd District, including parts of Broward, Palm Beach, Hendry, Martin and St. Lucie Counties, The Nelson Poynter Civil Liberties Award Dinner will begin at 8 p.m., preceded by an open bar cocktail and hors d'oeuvres reception at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 7 at the Renaissance Boca Raton Hotel, 2000 NW 19th Street, in Boca Raton. Tickets are $150 per person. For reservations, contact Elaina Ozrovitz at (305) 576-2337, ext. 13. or via email at eozrovitz@aclufl.org.

Congressman Hastings has served in the House of Representatives since 1992. He stood against anti-civil liberties legislation by voting against the USA Patriot Act and has consistently supported reproductive rights and religious freedom issues. He also cosponsored “The Freedom to Read Act” – legislation to curb measures in the USA Patriot Act that violate personal privacy. Prior to becoming a member of Congress, Hastings was appointed Florida's first African-American federal judge. He served on the bench for 10 years, from 1979 to 1989, before being impeached. The popular judge was charged with bribery, but later acquitted.

In 2004, as part of a larger investigation of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's crime lab, the Justice Department found that the agent in Hastings' federal trial had falsely testified. United States Senator Russ Feingold of Wisconsin will deliver the evening's keynote address. Senator Feingold was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1992, re-elected in 1998 and 2004. He is a member of the U.S. Senate Judiciary and Foreign Relations Committees.

Senator Feingold has introduced several bills to modify the USA Patriot Act. He is supporting the Security and Freedom Enhancement (SAFE) Act, which was re-introduced on April 6 by Senators Larry Craig, a Republican from Idaho, and Richard Durbin, a Democrat from Illinois. The bill would restore checks and balances on federal domestic spying powers and narrow several controversial USA Patriot Act provisions. Sen. Feingold will be introduced by Florida's senior U.S. Senator Bill Nelson.

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida 4500 Biscayne Blvd., Suite 340 Miami, FL 33137

For more information contact: Alessandra Soler Meetze at 305-576-2337 ext. 16 or
Elaina Ozrovitz at 305-576-2337 ext. 13