Coming to center: book reading, talk

"Our government can make you disappear." Those were the words Steven Wax never imagined he would hear himself say. In his 29 years as a public defender, Wax had never had to warn a client that he or she might be taken away to a military brig, or worse, a "black site," one of our country's dreaded secret prisons. How had our country come to this? The disappearance of people happens in places ruled by tyrants, military juntas, fascist strongmen governments with such contempt for the rule of law that they strip their citizens of all rights. But in America? Since Mr. Obama has taken office Steven has spent much time in Washington D.C., what new developments are occurring? How is our new president handling these issues? Come hear what is happening now in America!

Wax is in his sixth term as the Federal Public Defender for the District of Oregon. A cum laude graduate of Colgate University and Harvard Law School, he was a key part of the Brooklyn, N.Y. District Attorney's prosecution of David Berkowitz, a.k.a. "The Son of Sam."

Wax and his team are currently representing seven men held as "enemy combatants" in Guantanamo. He has taught at the Northwestern School of Law at Lewis and Clark College, serves as an ethics prosecutor for the Oregon State Bar, and lectures throughout the country.

Wax will meet with the cast and crew of Death and the Maiden the same day at 4:30 p.m. to explore the pressing questions that the play presents. These are the same issues that Steven Wax has spent his life defending.

Donations will be accepted at the door. For more information please visit: www.columbiaarts.org