The First Amendment: Our Most Fundamental and Contested Right
Panel Discussion hosted by the League of Women Voters of the Eden Area
and the Castro Valley Library
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
While most people agree that our First Amendment rights are important, there is considerable disagreement on whether all forms of expression, and all people, deserve protection. Join the Castro Valley Library and the League of Women Voters of the Eden Area as a panel of experts from fields such as education, journalism and the law help us understand the enduring legacy of our First Amendment rights and our contemporary debates. The discussion will take place on Tuesday, March 19 from 6 pm to 7:30 pm. Refreshments will be served. Register at www.aclibrary.org or call 510-667-7900.
Panelists:
Nia Rashidchi
Nia Rashidchi is the Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services for the Castro Valley Unified School District. She has served in education for 28 years in various leadership roles, such as teacher, principal, coordinator, and executive director. Her leadership roles have also included Assistant and Associate Superintendent for 10 years.
Katherine Ann Rowlands
Katherine Ann Rowlands is a longtime champion of local journalism, having worked as a leader for three decades newsrooms before becoming Owner and Publisher for the regional newswire Bay City News. Ms. Rowlands serves as President of the board of the First Amendment Coalition. She is also a co-founder of Women Do News, which raises the visibility of women journalists.
David Snyder
David Snyder is the Executive Director of the First Amendment Coalition, which educates, advocates and litigates to advance government transparency and First Amendment protections for all. Before leading FAC, David represented journalists and news companies as a lawyer with Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton. David also worked as a journalist for the Dallas Morning News and The Washington Post.
The Castro Valley Library, a branch of the Alameda County Library system. The Library will provide an ASL interpreter for any event with at least seven working days’ notice. Please call 510-667-7900 or TTY 888-663-0660.