American Civil Liberties Union

Free Speech:
Freedom of speech is protected in the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights and is guaranteed to all Americans. Since 1920, the ACLU has worked to preserve our freedom of speech. Learn more and take action to protect the right to free speech.



Freedom Files - Season 2
Ideological Exclusion

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Free Speech : General : Press Releases

ACLU Says Increased Security Fees at Grammy Winning Cuban Band Concert are Unfair (03/22/2000)
MIAMI -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida today filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of a Miami Beach concert promoter against the City of Miami saying that unusually high security fees were unfairly charged to Cuban band Los Van Van because the band might prompt anti-Castro Cuban protests. 

ACLU Calls White House Report on Internet Crime Law Enforcement "Wish List" (03/09/2000)
WASHINGTON-- A White House report on blocking Internet crime contains dangerous recommendations that would strip away basic privacy, free speech and free press protections, the American Civil Liberties Union warned today.

ACLU Sharply Criticizes White House Propaganda Scheme (01/14/2000)
WASHINGTON -- Revelations that the federal government has secretly inserted its propaganda into popular television sit-coms and dramas brought sharp criticism today from the American Civil Liberties Union.

ACLU Condemns Judge's Gag Order on Televising Trial of Sara Jane Olson (01/11/2000)
Media organizations, including CNN and Court TV, along with Olson's defense team, had requested that the trial, scheduled to begin in February, be televised. But Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James M. Ideman denied the request, saying, according to news accounts, "I believe, along with most of my colleagues, that televising trials can be a bad thing. I'm ag'in it. I admit my bias." 

Former U.S. Employee Sues Over Loyalty Oath (12/22/1999)
WASHINGTON--A woman who lost her job for refusing to sign a loyalty oath has filed suit in federal court, the Washington Post reported on December 22nd. The woman claims that the oath violates her First Amendment rights to freedom of religion and free speech and is therefore unconstitutional. The oath is required of almost all of the 1.8 million permanent federal employees.

Montana Tunes in to Constitutional Rights Via Public Service Announcements from ACLU (12/14/1999)
BILLINGS, MT -- Radio listeners in Montana are getting 60-second lessons on religious liberty, free speech, privacy rights, and other key Constitutional rights along with their news, weather and traffic reports, courtesy of the American Civil Liberties Union.

ACLU Says Hawaii Newspaper's First Amendment Rights Were Not Violated by Order to Continue Operating (11/12/1999)
HONOLULU -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii said today that the First Amendment rights of the owners of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin newspaper have not been violated by a recent court injunction halting it from shutting down.

ACLU Overturns Law and Protects CA Citizens from Being Sued by Police (10/20/1999)
LOS ANGELES -- In a victory for free speech, the American Civil Liberties Union today overturned a state law allowing police to sue individuals who lodge complaints against them.

Minnesota Civil Liberties Union Wins Dismissal of Lawsuit Against Trailer Park Activist (10/07/1999)
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Civil Liberties Union today announced the dismissal of a lawsuit against a woman seeking to improve conditions in the mobile home park where she lived.

ACLU of VA Defends Right of Former Radio Station Owner to Speak Out Against FCC (09/24/1999)
RICHMOND, VA -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia has agreed to represent a former radio station owner who faces contempt charges for challenging the Federal Communications Commission and speaking out against the transfer of the station's license to a new owner.

ACLU Says Music Should Be Heard On Georgia Streets (09/15/1999)
ATLANTA -- The American Civil Liberties of Georgia today filed a lawsuit against the City of Atlanta on behalf of two street musicians who claim their right to free expression is greatly impaired by restrictions on where they can perform.

ACLU of Ohio Blasts Police for Harassing Teens Wearing "Insane Clown Posse" T-Shirts (08/12/1999)
CLEVELAND -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio today said it may take legal action against Northwood officials after police officers harassed two 8th-graders because of their T-shirt choice, confiscating one of the shirts.

ACLU of New Jersey Sues Trenton Officials for Denying Public Forum to Community Activist (08/12/1999)
TRENTON -- The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey today filed a lawsuit against city officials for refusing to allow a local community activist to use the City Hall Atrium for a press conference.

PA Towns Says "Never on a Sunday" to Solicitation (08/06/1999)
FOX CHAPEL, PA -- Borough officials here are walking a tightrope between heeding residents' wishes and preserving free speech rights, according to the American Civil Liberties Union, as reported by The Valley Herald, a newspaper covering Western Pennsylvania.

ACLU Calls on House to Protect Free Speech While Considering Hate Crimes Legislation (08/04/1999)
WASHINGTON -- The American Civil Liberties Union today said that the House must remember that improperly drafted hate crimes legislation could have a potentially chilling effect on constitutionally protected speech.

ACLU Praises Cleveland Mayor's Support of KKK's First Amendment Right to March (08/03/1999)
CLEVELAND -- The American Civil Liberties Union of today praised the Cleveland Mayor Michael White for his efforts to protect the First Amendment right of marchers scheduled to rally in Cleveland later this month.

"Butterflies Are Free!" ACLU Declares in PA Artwork Controversy (07/29/1999)

ACLU Says Judicial-Complaint Rule Violates Free Speech (07/27/1999)
SEATTLE--The Washington affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union is protesting as unconstitutional a Commission on Judicial Conduct rule that prohibits someone who has filed a complaint against a judge from talking about it, the Seattle Times reported today.

ACLU Moves to End Chicago Mayor's 'Spying' on Reporters and City Officials (07/20/1999)
CHICAGO, IL -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois today said it will ask a federal judge to order an end to using employees of the Mayor's Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to conduct surveillance on conversations between news reporters and members of the City Council and other city officials.

Iowa Couple Sues For Right To Distribute Controversial Flyers (07/15/1999)
DAVENPORT, IA -- The American Civil Liberties of Iowa today filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Davenport for interfering with the rights of a couple to distribute controversial flyers at the city's annual Bix Street Festival.

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