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Montana County Library Steps Up for ACLU Freedom Files After State Library Folds Under Pressure (02/23/2006)
HELENA, MT -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Montana announced today that the Lewis and Clark Library will be the site for the screening and discussion of “Beyond the Patriot Act,” which is part of The ACLU Freedom Files, a documentary series airing nationwide on Court TV. The announcement comes after a decision yesterday by the Montana State Library to cancel the program.

In a National First, New Jersey Court Says Homeowner Associations Must Respect Residents' Free Speech Rights (02/07/2006)
NEWARK, NJ -- The Rutgers Constitutional Litigation Clinic and the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey today praised an appeals court opinion that provides new rights under the state Constitution for the more than one million residents of private communities governed by homeowners associations in the state.

ACLU of New Mexico Defends VA Employee Accused of ‘Sedition’ Over Criticism of Bush Administration (01/31/2006)
ALBUQUERQUE —The American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico today demanded an explanation from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for investigating a federal employee who published an editorial critical of the Bush administration in a local newspaper.

ACLU of Massachusetts Applauds Librarian for Standing Up to Warrantless Seizure of Library Computers (01/25/2006)
BOSTON - The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts today applauded the Mayor of Newton and its library director for requiring law enforcement authorities to comply with the basic requirements of the Fourth Amendment before seizing public library computers and the information they contain.

ACLU of New Jersey Helps Protesting Student "Skirt" School's No-Shorts Policy (01/25/2006)
NEWARK, NJ - The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey today announced that it has reached an agreement with the Hasbrouck Heights School District on behalf of Michael Coviello, a 17-year-old male student who was prohibited from wearing a skirt to school.

ACLU Of Indiana to Present "First Tuesdays" Discussion Series (01/19/2006)
INDIANAPOLIS -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana today announced the start of "First Tuesdays", a monthly program of free public discussions about vital issues of the day.

ACLU of Rhode Island Files Appeal on Behalf of Christian Prisoner Barred from Preaching at Religious Services (01/12/2006)
PROVIDENCE, RI -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island announced today that it has filed an appeal in federal court on behalf of a Christian prisoner who was barred from preaching during religious services at the state prison.

Free Speech Groups Demand Release of Florida Man Jailed Over a Web Site (12/22/2005)
LAKELAND, FL -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, the Free Speech Coalition and the First Amendment Lawyers Association today asked a state appeals court to release a Lakeland webmaster who was thrown in jail for allegedly posting obscene photographs on a Web site that is hosted in Europe.

ACLU of Florida Defends High School Student Punished for Refusing to Stand for the Pledge of Allegiance (12/22/2005)
WEST PALM BEACH, FL -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida today filed a federal lawsuit against Palm Beach County school officials for harassing and punishing 17-year-old Cameron Frazier when he expressed his First Amendment right to not participate in the Pledge of Allegiance. The ACLU lawsuit is challenging a Florida law and a Palm Beach County school board policy mandating that students receive written permission from their parents before declining to recite the oath.

Florida Officials Agree to Protect Free Speech, Suspend Insurance Requirement for Public Displays During the Holidays (12/13/2005)
TAMPA, FL - In a victory for free speech, Polk County officials today agreed to temporarily eliminate a burdensome rule that had been challenged by the American Civil Liberties Union requiring that individuals and groups purchase expensive insurance policies before being allowed to set up displays in front of the county administration building.

ACLU Condemns Hidden Provision that Would Impede Freedom of Speech; Patriot Act Reauthorization Bill Would Empower Secret Service as Censors (12/12/2005)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today denounced a provision contained within legislation created to reauthorize the Patriot Act that would make major changes to the criminal statutes administered by the Secret Service and could seriously damage the free speech rights of all Americans. The controversial provision has not had any Congressional review or hearings.

ACLU Urges Boston Mayor to Abandon T-Shirt Censorship (12/02/2005)
BOSTON -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts today sent a letter to Mayor Thomas M. Menino and Boston Police Commissioner Kathleen O’Toole urging them to abandon the announced plan to send city officials into shops to seize or “strongly discourage” the sale of T-shirts emblazoned with the message: “Stop Snitchin’.”

ACLU Challenges Indianapolis Noise Ordinance (11/28/2005)
INDIANAPOLIS – Acting on behalf of a the union leading a local “Justice for Janitors” campaign, the Indiana Civil Liberties Union today filed a lawsuit suit asking a federal court to declare Marion County’s noise ordinance unconstitutional and block the City of Indianapolis from enforcing the ordinance against the group.

ACLU Files Lawsuit in Case of Denver Residents Blocked from Bush Event Because of Bumper Sticker (11/21/2005)
DENVER -- White House event staffers unlawfully removed two Denver residents from a town hall discussion with President Bush because of an anti-war bumper sticker on their car, charged the American Civil Liberties Union in a federal lawsuit filed today.

Police Trampled Civil Rights During 2003 Free Trade Protests in Florida, ACLU Charges (11/17/2005)
MIAMI – The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida’s Greater Miami Chapter today filed three lawsuits charging that officers of the Miami, Miami-Dade and Broward police departments used excessive force to intimidate and unlawfully arrest innocent bystanders and protesters who were exercising their free speech rights during the November 2003 Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) ministerial meetings in downtown Miami.

Following ACLU Action, Virginia University Drops Charges Against Student Arrested for Protesting Campus Military Recruiters (11/14/2005)
RICHMOND, VA – The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia announced today that government lawyers in Fairfax County have agreed to drop their case against Tariq Khan, a George Mason University student who was arrested while protesting the presence of military recruiters on campus.

Appeals Court Strikes Down Miami Beach Ordinance Banning Street Performers (09/30/2005)
MIAMI -- In a unanimous decision, the Third District Court of Appeal today struck down as unconstitutional a Miami Beach ordinance that bans musicians, artists and dancers from performing anywhere along the tourist-laden streets of Miami Beach, including Ocean Drive, Lincoln Road and Washington Avenue. The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, which argued that the ordinance violates the First Amendment, hailed the ruling.

Following ACLU Action, Pasadena to Allow Residents to Hang Political Signs (09/27/2005)
LOS ANGELES - Following a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, a Pasadena couple who was forced to remove a sign questioning the war in Iraq from the exterior of their home will be allowed to hang it from their home once again, according to the city attorney.

Pasadena to Residents: Watch What You Say (09/14/2005)
LOS ANGELES -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California and a Pasadena couple that was forced to remove a sign on their home questioning the war in Iraq filed a federal lawsuit today in seeking a court order blocking the city from enforcing a municipal code that is counter to the First Amendment.

NYCLU Calls on FOX Station Not to Censor Candidate's Political Advertising (09/06/2005)
NEW YORK -- The New York Civil Liberties Union today initiated an investigation to determine whether the FOX television station WNYW/Channel 5 violated the ""equal time"" requirements of federal law by refusing to run advertising for Manhattan Borough President candidate Brian Ellner.