Keynote: Say It Louder: Artists, Activism & the First Amendment

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      "details": "Jessica Herman Weitz is the National Director of Artist & Entertainment Engagement at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), where she builds and leads the organization’s strategy to educate, convene, and activate artists and the entertainment industry in defense of civil rights and civil liberties. She founded the ACLU Artist Ambassador Project and the ACLU Blue Ribbon campaign, creating the blueprint for how the ACLU partners with artists, authors, studios, streamers, and creators nationwide — supporting advocacy efforts across all 50 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico.\r\rOver the past year, she mobilized more than 500 artists — including Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Billie Eilish, Selena Gomez, Tom Hanks, Pedro Pascal, and Olivia Rodrigo — to publicly defend Jimmy Kimmel’s free speech rights in response to government censorship efforts. She also paired renowned fashion designer and ACLU Artist Ambassador Willy Chavarria with the “More Than A Game” campaign, championing the freedom of trans youth to play sports as the issue awaits a decision before the Supreme Court of the United States. In addition, she is working with artists around an upcoming landmark Supreme Court case protecting the constitutionality of birthright citizenship.\r\rJessica is part of the leadership behind the ICE OUT campaign, galvanizing artists to use major cultural moments — from awards shows to fashion week — to demand accountability and keep national attention on the human cost of immigration enforcement. She is a regular red carpet correspondent for the ACLU, leveraging her deeply cultivated relationships to engage with talent and conduct interviews that support timely campaigns and activations. At the intersection of culture and constitutional rights, Jessica works to ensure artists don’t just shape the narrative — they help shape the future.",
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  "description": "Artists have always used their platforms to challenge power, and the First Amendment has had their back, even when governments tried to shut it down. The ACLU’s Jessica Weitz joins Jane Fonda and W. Kamau Bell to link culture to action. When democracy is at stake, there’s a role for everyone to get involved. This session shares concrete ways anyone can show up, organize, and protect free speech—no fame required.",
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