Blog of Rights

Rekha
Arulanantham

This Week in Civil Liberties (9/14/2012)

By Rekha Arulanantham, ACLU at 7:23pm

Which legislative body passed a five-year reauthorization of a law that gives vast, unchecked surveillance authority to the government?

How many ACLU affiliates participated in a coordinated records request to find out which law enforcement agencies use cell phone location data to track Americans?

In what year did Congress pass the only law protecting the privacy of your electronic communications? (Hint: The law is older than the Internet.)

What is the name of the man who died as a prisoner at Guantánamo Bay, despite having been cleared to go home on several occasions?

This Week in Civil Liberties (9/7/2012)

By Rekha Arulanantham, ACLU at 5:12pm

What smartphone manufacturer places persistent, unique identifiers in its smartphones that concern privacy experts?

The governor of which state could sign a bill this year to end the practice of shackling pregnant prisoners?

The Apple App Store’s “private censorship” of applications is criticized as infringing what First Amendment right?

Which Arizona law’s “show me your papers” provision will increase instances of racial profiling of Latinos?

This Week in Civil Liberties (8/31/2012)

By Rekha Arulanantham, ACLU at 4:02pm

What agreement, being negotiated in secret, is a threat to free speech and intellectual property?

What does a rape victim think about politicians’ views on “legitimate rape” and a woman’s right to choose?

Which social networking company is appealing a court decision in order to protect one of its user’s right to free speech?

What new lie-detection technology could turn into a privacy nightmare?

This Week in Civil Liberties (8/24/2012)

By Rekha Arulanantham, ACLU at 6:50pm

In which state did a school force students to attend a religious rally during which a minister gave a sermon to students, Christian rapper B-SHOC performed religious songs, and students were asked to fill out a form saying that they had accepted Jesus as their savior?

Which U.S. Representative’s comments on rape and abortion are emblematic of sentiment in many state legislatures? 

At what upcoming political events should you watch out for First Amendment violations by law enforcement?

This Week in Civil Liberties (8/17/2012)

By Rekha Arulanantham, ACLU at 2:16pm

The ACLU is challenging a discriminatory single-sex education program in which state?

Which social networking site reversed its rejection of ads on marijuana legalization after the ACLU of Northern California and Electronic Frontier Foundation raised concerns for free speech?

By what percent has the average length of prison sentences in the U.S. increased since 1990?

At which Boston airport have TSA officers reported that TSA management’s "behavioral detection program" leads to racial profiling?

This Week in Civil Liberties (8/10/2012)

By Rekha Arulanantham, ACLU at 11:20am

In which state did a charter school attempt to violate female students’ Title IX rights by forcing them to choose between taking a pregnancy test or getting kicked out of school?

Which ACLU affiliate recently released a report that documents unconstitutional police harassment of photographers?

Which constitutional amendment ought to protect the expression of “liking” something on Facebook?

Which court ruled this week that GPS tracking could be used against defendants who were tracked before the Supreme Court’s United States v. Jones decision?

This Week in Civil Liberties (8/3/2012)

By Rekha Arulanantham, ACLU at 4:56pm

Which government agency is able to collect and share your personal information in the name of protecting national security?

In how many states have ACLU affiliates requested information on law enforcement’s use of license-plate tracking?

In which state is an ACLU affiliate challenging the state’s voter ID law that could disenfranchise more than one million voters?

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the ACLU’s challenge to what government blacklist should go forward?

This Week in Civil Liberties (7/27/12)

By Rekha Arulanantham, ACLU at 4:03pm

Which city’s police department has issued a document on the public’s right to record the police as a result of a settlement of an ACLU lawsuit?

The government can continue to pretend documents made public by what group are still secret?

What sheriff took the stand this week in an ACLU case against racial profiling?

Which state almost executed an intellectually disabled man this week?

Which ACLU affiliate has launched a webpage to track law enforcement abuse of protestors’ rights?

This Week in Civil Liberties (7/20/2012)

By Rekha Arulanantham, ACLU at 4:52pm

Which government agency monitors the private emails of its employees?

Which state is ready to illegally execute an intellectually disabled man on Monday?

Who is being sued by the ACLU and the Center for Constitutional Rights for authorizing the drone-strike deaths of three U.S. citizens?

A school board in which state decided to end its practice of holding public high-school graduations at a church?

Why is the ACLU suing Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio?

This Week in Civil Liberties (7/6/12)

By Rekha Arulanantham, ACLU at 2:02pm

True or false: Aggressive collection of legal financial obligations creates a two-tiered system of justice in which the poorest defendants are punished more harshly than those with means.

Which court’s decision on the Affordable Care Act means that the contraceptive coverage rule – which ensures access to affordable birth control for millions of women across the country – is still in place?

In which state will a megabill have an impact on 100 percent of abortion providers, according to a new ACLU infographic?

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