John Wood, Jr. Speaks on "Civil Rights and Free Speech in a Polarized Age"
A voice for political and racial reconciliation will speak on “Civil Rights and Free Speech in a Polarized Age” Tues., April 9 at 6:30p in Math 175 on the West Lafayette campus.
John Wood, Jr. is the national ambassador for Braver Angels, a grassroots, bipartisan organization dedicated to the work of political depolarization. Their national network of volunteers and bipartisan local alliances create spaces for empathetic dialogue, constructive debate, and are challenging politicians and institutions to build trust across the political divide. Wood’s roots in a bipartisan, multicultural family prepared him for crossing America’s complex political and social divides. A former nominee for congress, Wood is an opinion columnist for USA Today and host of the podcast Uniting America with John Wood Jr. This event is sponsored by the Department of Philosophy, College of Liberal Arts and Voices for Liberty, an initiative of the Antonin Scalia School of Law at George Mason University.
While some view freedom of speech as detrimental to minority groups, others champion it as a necessary condition for protecting underrepresented voices. The Liberty & Law Center’s Voices for Liberty Initiative examines this intersection, considering the role free speech has played and continues to play in advancing civil rights in America, particularly for historically disadvantaged and/or socially marginalized groups. Its program includes significant research and scholarship, a nationwide speakers bureau, and numerous public events.