FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Annie Stone, 703-217-1169 [email protected]
Merissa Blum, 215-370-0387 [email protected]
NATIONAL CONSTITUTION CENTER ANNOUNCES NEW AMERICA’S TOWN HALL
PROGRAMS FOR OCTOBER THROUGH DECEMBER 2020
Speakers include David French of The Dispatch, religious freedom advocate Kristina Arriaga, and leading Shakespeare expert Barry Edelstein
Topics include contentious presidential elections, church-state separation, Shakespeare and America’s founding, and the Equal Rights Amendment
Philadelphia, PA (October 16, 2020) – Today, the National Constitution Center released a lineup of new programs as part of its America’s Town Hall series of constitutional conversations and debates. Programs are free to the public and will be held online.
On Monday, October 19, election scholars James Ceaser of the University of Virginia, Edward Foley of The Ohio State University, Robert Lieberman of Johns Hopkins University, and Franita Tolson of the University of Southern California Gould School of Law, join the National Constitution Center to discuss key controversial and contested elections throughout American history—including 1800, 1860, 1876, and 2000—and what we can learn from them as we approach Election Day.
Other election-themed programs include a conversation on social media platforms and the fight against election disinformation on October 29. Additional programs will be added. See below for a full list of programming. Up-to-date program information is available at constitutioncenter.org/debate.
Upcoming America’s Town Hall programming:
America’s Contentious Presidential Elections: A History
Monday, October 19, 7 p.m. ET
Free Online
Don’t miss a timely conversation exploring key controversial and contested elections throughout American history—including 1800, 1860, 1876, and 2000—and what we can learn from them as we approach Election Day. Election scholars James Ceaser of the University of Virginia, Edward Foley of The Ohio State University and author of Ballot Battles: The History of Disputed Elections in the United States, Robert Lieberman of Johns Hopkins University and author of Four Threats: The Recurring Crises of American Democracy, and Franita Tolson of the University of Southern California Gould School of Law, join moderator Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, to discuss. This program is presented in partnership with the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University.
Social Media Platforms and the Fight Against Election Disinformation
Thursday, October 29, 7 p.m. ET
Free Online
Nathaniel Persily, co-director of the Stanford Program on Democracy and the Internet, and others explore what social media platforms are doing to tackle disinformation, foreign interference, and fake news during this election season. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates. This program is presented in partnership with the Freedom Forum.
Church-State Separation: What Does the Constitution Really Say?
Thursday, November 19, 7 p.m. ET
Free Online
Religious freedom advocate Kristina Arriaga and scholar Stephanie Barclay of Notre Dame Law School join constitutional scholars Erwin Chemerinsky and Howard Gillman, authors of The Religion Clauses: The Case for Separating Church and State, to debate what the Constitution says about the relationship between church and state and provide their take on the most recent religious liberty Supreme Court cases. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates.
Shakespeare and the Making of America
Monday, November 23, 12 p.m. ET
Free Online
Echoes of Shakespeare can be heard in some of the most fundamental documents in American history, including the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. Join one of America’s leading authorities on Shakespeare Barry Edelstein of The Old Globe; Kevin Hayes, author of Shakespeare and the Making of America; and Lucas Morel of Washington and Lee University; for a look at how the founders understood Shakespeare and how his work relates to American constitutional values today. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates.
What the Founders Learned from the Greeks and Romans
Thursday, December 3, 12 p.m. ET
Free Online
Carl Richard, author of The Founders and the Classics, Thomas Ricks, author of First Principles: What America's Founders Learned from the Greeks and Romans and How That Shaped Our Country, and Caroline Winterer of Stanford University explore the influence of the Greeks and Romans on America's founders and ultimately a new nation. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates.
The National Constitution Center’s America’s Town Hall series features distinguished leaders, scholars, authors, and journalists who speak on the most significant constitutional topics of our time. The Center’s online America’s Town Hall programs are free. Viewers can register for the Zoom sessions at constitutioncenter.org/debate or watch from youtube.com/ConstitutionCenter. Archived America’s Town Hall programs can be found on the Interactive Constitution at constitutioncenter.com/interactive-constitution/media-library.
###
About the National Constitution Center
The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia brings together people of all ages and perspectives, across America and around the world, to learn about, debate, and celebrate the greatest vision of human freedom in history, the U.S. Constitution. A private, nonprofit organization, the Center serves as America’s leading platform for constitutional education and debate, fulfilling its congressional charter “to disseminate information about the U.S. Constitution on a nonpartisan basis.” As the Museum of We the People, the Center brings the Constitution to life for visitors of all ages through interactive programs and exhibits. As America’s Town Hall, the Center brings the leading conservative and liberal thought leaders together to debate the Constitution on all media platforms. As a Headquarters for Civic Education, the Center delivers the best educational programs and online resources that inspire citizens and engage all Americans in learning about the U.S. Constitution. For more information, call 215-409-6700 or visit constitutioncenter.org.
###
About the National Constitution Center
The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia brings together people of all ages and perspectives, across America and around the world, to learn about, debate, and celebrate the greatest vision of human freedom in history, the U.S. Constitution. A private, nonprofit organization, the Center serves as America’s leading platform for constitutional education and debate, fulfilling its congressional charter “to disseminate information about the U.S. Constitution on a nonpartisan basis.” As the Museum of We the People, the Center brings the Constitution to life for visitors of all ages through interactive programs and exhibits. As America’s Town Hall, the Center brings the leading conservative and liberal thought leaders together to debate the Constitution on all media platforms. As a Headquarters for Civic Education, the Center delivers the best educational programs and online resources that inspire citizens and engage all Americans in learning about the U.S. Constitution. For more information, call 215-409-6700 or visit constitutioncenter.org.
