Blog of Rights: Official Blog of the American Civil Liberties Union

Pentecostal Prisoner's Religious Rights Restored in N.J.

suzanne_ito — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:10:00 -0500

Today the ACLU announced a settlement with prison officials in New Jersey that will restore the right of an ordained Pentecostal minister to preach to his fellow prisoners.

Anti-Islam T-Shirt Ban Prompts ACLU Lawsuit

suzanne_ito — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:57:00 -0500

Islam is of the Devil.

That is the T-shirt slogan that instigated a hailstorm of debate in Gainesville, Fla., about where to draw the line between offensive speech and speech that is intended to incite harm or violence. The T-shirts in question were worn to school by students of varying ages from elementary to high school.

Dexter, DNA and Your Privacy

suzanne_ito — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:51:00 -0500

Ripped from the headlines, the ACLU was recently mentioned on the popular Showtime TV show, Dexter. It went like this:

Thankful for Being a Family One Day at a Time

suzanne_ito — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:27:00 -0500

Thanksgiving will always be an extra special day in our family. Just before Thanksgiving last year, a Florida family court judge declared Florida’s gay adoption ban unconstitutional and allowed me to adopt two foster kids that my partner and I have been raising for almost five years now. Even though the state quickly appealed the decision, it didn't dampen our spirits that Thanksgiving one bit.

Puerto Rico to Investigate Murder of Gay Man as a Hate Crime

suzanne_ito — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:53:00 -0500

After meeting on Monday with the ACLU of Puerto Rico, the Puerto Rico Department of Justice has agreed to investigate the brutal murder of Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado as a hate crime. The Department of Justice has also agreed to work with the ACLU to train Judges and prosecutors on hate crimes prosecutions.

Proud Pride

suzanne_ito — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:40:00 -0500

Last April, the ACLU of Louisiana held our first LGBT meeting in Lake Charles after a complaint from a local lesbian couple — who had been told by a police officer that it was illegal to be gay — came through our system. Lake Charles is a city of about 70,000 in southwestern Louisiana, about a half hour from the Texas border.

Join Us in D.C. to Protect Abortion Coverage in Health Care Reform

suzanne_ito — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:08:00 -0500

On November 17, I asked if you were angry about the Stupak amendment to the House health care reform bill. Well it's clear that you are.

New Details About Destroyed Torture Tapes

suzanne_ito — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:57:00 -0500

Last Friday, we got a list, called a Vaughn index, of records related to the CIA's destruction of videotapes that showed the torture and abusive interrogation of detainees in U.S. custody overseas. Among the most interesting revelations in the index are the precise date the tapes were destroyed, and evidence that the Bush White House was involved in early discussions about the tapes' destruction.

Wipe That Look Off Your Face

suzanne_ito — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:33:00 -0500

Ever get that feeling that someone's watching you? If you're at the airport this holiday season, that might not be your spidey sense tingling—someone really might be watching you. Specifically, the "behavior detection officers" of the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) Screening Passengers by Observational Techniques (SPOT) team.

Rally the Grassroots to Stop Stupak

suzanne_ito — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:51:00 -0500

Well, the battle is now joined. With the addition of the Stupak Amendment to the House's health care reform bill, we are reminded once again that the fight to preserve women's reproductive rights remains literally a constant struggle.