[laughter] and now, i would like to invite to the stage the pan-american center and jamile jaffer of the aclu. [applause] >> good evening. on and larry, the director of freedoms right and international programs at pan american center. >> as many of you know, it was founded just after the first world war on the principal discussions writers from different countries and cultures can reduce the kinds of tensions that lead to such catastrophic conflicts. but we are all here tonight as largely because of our commitment to that principle. a commitment we share with the american association of university press professors and the american academy of religion, our co plaintiffs in the lawsuit challenging the exclusion of traiq ramadan from the united states and of course aclu which so brilliantly or doorcase. on behalf aaup and american academy of religion and of the members of the pen americans a drive to thank jamile jaffer, melissa dittman and everyone else at the aclu who defend our rights as americans to hear a full range of voices and ideas and our ability as the pen to carry out our wo