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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.

Following Criticism from the ACLU of Rhode Island, U.S. District Court Will Amend Proposed Rule to Limit Speech (08/25/2005)
PROVIDENCE, RI -- At the urging of the American Civil Liberties Union, local media outlets and open records advocates, the U.S. District Court for Rhode Island announced that it will amend a proposed court rule that would have severely curtailed the First Amendment rights of lawyers, litigants and court employees.

ACLU of Florida Negotiating To Protect Free Speech Rights of Anti-War Protesters (08/25/2005)
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida sent a letter today to the Mayor and Chief of Police here expressing its intent to defend the First Amendment rights of protesters and their supporters.

Federal Court Orders Pennsylvania School District to Reinstate Student Rapper (08/24/2005)
PITTSBURGH - In a victory for free speech rights, a federal judge today ruled that ninth-grader Anthony Latour can return to school after he was expelled because of rap lyrics he wrote at home and posted on the Internet. The ruling came in a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania on behalf of Latour and his parents charging that school officials violated the student's First Amendment rights.

NYCLU Calls on New York Officials to Reinstate Permit for Graffiti Art Exhibit (08/18/2005)
NEW YORK -- The New York Civil Liberties Union today called on New York City to reinstate the permit for Mark Ecko Enterprises to conduct an outdoor art exhibition featuring graffiti artists and images of subway cars.

ACLU Urges City of Lansing to Reconsider Censorship of Shakespeare in the Park (08/09/2005)
LANSING, MI - In a letter sent today to the City of Lansing, the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan and the Lansing branch of the ACLU advised city officials to reconsider their decision to censor a Shakespeare in the Park production of "Titus Andronicus."

Science Under Siege By Bush Administration, ACLU Charges (06/21/2005)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union released a report today examining government policies and practices that have hampered academic freedom and scientific inquiry since September 11, 2001. The report sheds new light on how these policies curtail basic rights and put all Americans at risk.