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Rekha
Arulanantham
06/22/2012
This Week in Civil Liberties

This Week in Civil Liberties (6/22/12)

By Rekha Arulanantham, ACLU at 5:37pm

Which legislative body convened the first-ever hearing on the dangers of long-term solitary confinement?

Which standardized testing group announced a new, fairer lactation policy for nursing moms?

In which state are gay and lesbian parents banned from adopting their partners’ kids?

Which government agency found that a Texas school violated a student’s civil rights under Title IX when it failed to investigate the sexual assault she reported?

Which religious lobbying group is holding a “fortnight for freedom” because it wants to use religious liberty as a license to discriminate?

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06/08/2012
This Week in Civil Liberties

This Week in Civil Liberties (6/8/12)

By Rekha Arulanantham, ACLU at 6:02pm
Why should you care about surveillance if you have nothing to hide?

True or False? Several states including Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawai’i, Illinois, Louisiana, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Washington and West Virginia have taken steps to reduce overincarceration.

Which law that discriminates against same-sex couples was ruled unconstitutional by yet another federal judge?

Wh
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06/04/2012
On the Agenda

On the Agenda: Week of June 4-June 8

By Rekha Arulanantham, ACLU at 11:14am

We have a light week ahead of us, but are planning for a couple events next week.

The ACLU Washington Legislative Office will host a symposium on June 11 commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in Plyler v. Doe, the case that ensured equal access to public education to all children, regardless of their citizenship or immigration status.  It will feature keynote addresses from both Assistant Attorney General Tom Perez and Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Russlynn Ali. 

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06/01/2012
This Week in Civil Liberties

This Week in Civil Liberties (06/01/12)

By Rekha Arulanantham, ACLU at 5:30pm
Which government agency uses factually flawed and biased information in counterterrorism training materials?

What law, which discriminates against married same-sex couples, was ruled unconstitutional by a federal appeals court?

In which state did the ACLU file a lawsuit on behalf of same-sex couples seeking the freedom to marry?

A constitutional amendment in which state could disenfranchise thousand
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05/29/2012
On the Agenda

On the Agenda: Week of May 28-June 1

By Rekha Arulanantham, ACLU at 3:21pm

We’re not too busy this week, with the House and Senate in recess until Wednesday, but we are planning for a couple events in June.

The Paycheck Fairness Act is expected to come to the Senate floor for a vote next week - possibly as early as June 4 or 5. Last week, we participated in a #Equal Pay Tweet chat, and our own Deb Vagins spoke at a press conference to stress the importance of this legislation. You can ask your senator to support the Paycheck Fairness Act before next week’s vote by clicking here.

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05/25/2012
This Week in Civil Liberties

This Week in Civil Liberties (05/25/12)

By Rekha Arulanantham, ACLU at 3:12pm

Which court has agreed to hear our case challenging the FISA Amendments Act, which authorizes NSA warrantless wiretapping?

The ACLU sent letters to school districts in which states regarding single-sex education programs thatpromote harmful sex stereotypes?

Members of the Select Senate Committee on Intelligence met in secret this week, according to press reports, to approve legislation to extend what sweeping surveillance law?

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05/21/2012
On the Agenda

On the Agenda: Week of May 21-25

By Rekha Arulanantham, ACLU at 3:45pm

This morning we received good news; the Supreme Court has just agreed to consider whether plaintiffs represented by the ACLU have the right to challenge the constitutionality of the FISA Amendments Act of 2008, a controversial law that authorizes the National Security Agency to conduct dragnet surveillance of Americans’ international emails and phone calls. ACLU Deputy Legal Director Jameel Jaffer said:  “The constitutionality of the government’s surveillance powers can and should be tested in court. We are hopeful that the Supreme Court will agree.”

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05/18/2012
This Week in Civil Liberties

This Week in Civil Liberties (5/18/12)

By Rekha Arulanantham, ACLU at 3:22pm

Which law could be used to restrict the right to protest at next week’s NATO summit?

Which government watch list can you get on but are entirely at the government’s mercy if you want to get off?

A lawmaker from which state would rather women die than have abortion remain legal?

In which state did a grandmother get sentenced to life without parole for a nonviolent first-time drug offense?

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05/11/2012
This Week in Civil Liberties

This Week in Civil Liberties (5/11/12)

By Rekha Arulanantham, ACLU at 5:20pm

Which Internet company is in court protecting one of its user's right to free speech?

Which state voted to ban marriage for same-sex couples?

Which politician endorsed the freedom to marry for same-sex couples this week?

Which judicial body did ACLU Executive Director Anthony Romero describe as a system is "set up to guarantee convictions and hand down death sentences, nothing more?"

What bill would be a good start to prohibiting employers from asking for employees' or job applicants' social networking passwords?

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05/07/2012
Voter ID

On the Agenda: Week of May 7-13, 2012

By Rekha Arulanantham, ACLU at 1:38pm

Congress is back, so we’re looking at a busy schedule this week.

As we mentioned last week, this Wednesday the House Armed Services Committee will mark up this year’s National Defense Authorization Act. We’re keeping a close eye on NDAA amendments, which could affect several diverse civil liberties issues, including LGBT rights, indefinite detention, reproductive rights, and military sexual trauma.

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