Edward Snowden shares the stage (via video) with actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt at the ACLU SoCal dinner.(Robert Scheer)

The whistleblower attended the 2016 American Civil Liberties Union SoCal dinner via video stream to honor actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who played Snowden in the Oliver Stone film “Snowden,” as well as to tell Americans, “When systems fall, when things break down … people remain. Don’t be afraid of what comes next. Be ready.”

When Gordon-Levitt exclaimed that he didn’t know Snowden would appear, the whistleblower joked, “It turns out I can keep a secret.”

Truthdig Publisher Zuade Kaufman and Editor in Chief Robert Scheer were in attendance at the ceremony, which took place at Beverly Wilshire Hotel Sunday night. Other honorees included TV writer and producer Norman Lear, Gold Star parents Khizr and Ghazala Khan, film director Catherine Hardwicke and Buzzfeed executive Frank Cooper III.

A video of the event will be made available on Monday, so check back to watch Snowden, Lear and others. Meanwhile, here are some tweets of highlights from the night.

— Posted by Natasha Hakimi Zapata

 Dig, Root, Grow

This year, we’re all on shaky ground, and the need for independent journalism has never been greater. A new administration is openly attacking free press — and the stakes couldn’t be higher.

Your support is more than a donation. It helps us dig deeper into hidden truths, root out corruption and misinformation, and grow an informed, resilient community.

Independent journalism like Truthdig doesn't just report the news — it helps cultivate a better future.

Your tax-deductible gift powers fearless reporting and uncompromising analysis. Together, we can protect democracy and expose the stories that must be told.

Dig. Root. Grow. Cultivate a better future.

Donate today.

SUPPORT TRUTHDIG
In this Article:
#aclu#american civil liberties union#buzzfeed#donald trump#edward snowden#jane fonda#khizr khan#norman lear#oliver stone#politics#whistleblower