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Speaking Truth to Power

Discussions on Maria Ressa's "How To Stand Up to a Dictator"

Join Notre Dame law professor and human rights attorney Diane Desierto as she discusses Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa’s memoir, “How to Stand Up to a Dictator: The Fight for Our Future.”

Internationally renowned journalist and 2021 Nobel Peace Prize recipient Maria Ressa has one question for the world: What are you willing to sacrifice for the truth?

As a former CNN reporter and founder of the news organization Rappler, Ressa, a Filipino and American citizen, has devoted her life and career to reporting on political events in the Philippines as well as fighting disinformation, fake news, and attempts to silence the free press. Her work has provoked powerful adversaries — including former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte. In what is largely seen as an effort to silence Ressa’s efforts, the Philippine government utilized the legal system to accuse her of a multitude of crimes. Ressa is currently found guilty of cyberlibel and faces years in prison and thousands of dollars in fines.

Our discussion of “How to Stand Up to a Dictator” will be led by University of Notre Dame law and global affairs Professor Diane Desierto, an international human rights attorney who is appealing Ressa’s cyberlibel conviction before the Philippine Supreme Court.

This event is held in partnership with Notre Dame’s Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies, who will host Ressa for an in-person conversation at 4 p.m. on March 21 at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center. The event is free and open to the public, and tickets will be available soon at performingarts.nd.edu.

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