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ACLU Sues Law Enforcement for Shielding President Bush From Protestors
The ACLU and the ACLU of New Mexico filed a lawsuit on January 15, 2008, on behalf of several New Mexico residents and advocacy organizations who were made to stand more than 150 yards away from the site of a fundraiser being attended by the president as they peacefully protested the views of the administration, while a group of people expressing support for President Bush were allowed to stand only a few feet from the fundraiser site. Learn more>>

Defense Department Shuts Down Pentagon Database on Peaceful Groups
The ACLU applauded the decision of the U.S. Department of Defense to shut down its Threat and Local Observation Notices (TALON) anti-terrorism database. The DoD program, which began in 2003 to house intelligence reports about possible threats to military bases in the U.S., strayed from its intended mission and expanded the database to include reports by local law enforcement agencies and military security personnel about nonviolent demonstrations and anti-war rallies. Learn more >>
> Read the Report: No Real Threat: The Pentagon's Secret Database on Peaceful Protest
> Learn more about the ACLU's efforts to fight government spying

ACLU client Jeff Rank talks about his right to protest case, Rank v. Jenkins

"Congress shall make no law respecting…the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

Berryville Revises Demonstration Ordinance Under Pressure from ACLU and VOP (04/15/2008)
Berryville, VA – Less than a month after the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia and the Virginia Organizing Project threatened to file a lawsuit, the Town Council of Berryville has repealed its old demonstration and parade ordinance and passed a new one.

Coalition Appeals City’s Incomplete “Conditional Alternative Permit” For RNC March (03/06/2008)
St. Paul, MN – Cooperating attorneys for the ACLU of Minnesota and the Minnesota Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild today filed an appeal to the St. Paul City Council on behalf of the Coalition to March on the RNC and Stop the War, challenging the conditions imposed by the City of St. Paul on the “Conditional Alternative Permit” that was granted to the Coalition earlier this week. The appeal challenges the failure of the City to grant the Coalition the permit that was requested due to the imposition of conditions on the permit which are not authorized by city ordinance. “The permit that we received is substantially different from the one that was requested, so we are asking the City Council to protect our constitutional rights,” said Coalition member Marie Braun. The “Conditional Alternative Permit” issued to the Coalition completely omitted any reference to important details such as a march route within sight and sound of the convention. “Tens of thousands of people will be coming from the Midwest and around the country to protest the illegal and immoral war against Iraq. We need these important details as soon as possible so we can work out the logistics of moving 50,000 people through the streets of St. Paul in a safe manner,” Braun added.

ACLU announces settlement of 4-year-old lawsuit over Colorado (03/05/2008)
The ACLU of Colorado announced today a settlement of a four-year-old legal battle over state regulations that apply to rallies, demonstrations, and other First Amendment activity on the West steps of the Capitol Building and nearby locations administered by the Colorado Department of Personnel and Administration (DPA).

ACLU Sues Law Enforcement for Shielding President Bush From Protestors (01/15/2008)
ALBUQUERQUE - The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of New Mexico filed a lawsuit in federal court today on behalf of several New Mexico residents and advocacy organizations who were made to stand more than 150 yards away from the site of a fundraiser being attended by the president as they peacefully protested the views of the administration, while a group of people expressing support for President Bush were allowed to stand only a few feet from the fundraiser site.

ACLU of North Carolina Asks North Carolina Judicial Standards Commission to Investigate Judge’s Decision to Close Courtroom in Blackwater Protesters’ Trial on Trespass Charges (01/09/2008)
RALEIGH – The American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina Legal Foundation (ACLU-NCLF) filed a complaint today with the North Carolina Judicial Standards Commission, asking the Commission to investigate a Currituck County district judge’s decision to clear the courtroom on December 5, 2007, during a criminal trial. The decision, made by Judge Edgar Barnes, came during the criminal trespass trial of seven individuals arrested in October 2007 after protesting on Blackwater USA’s property in Moyock. Based upon reports that the ACLU-NCLF received from several individuals who were present in the courtroom that day, including some of the defendants, several reporters and a concerned citizen, it appears that Judge Edgar Barnes held a significant portion of the trial behind closed doors, ordering sheriff’s deputies to clear the courtroom. Everyone, except the defendants, prosecutors, sheriff’s witnesses and a Blackwater official, was immediately barred from the trial. Reportedly, Judge Barnes did not give a reason for clearing the courtroom. Further, by all reports, there was no disruption on the part of the public attending the trial. Judge Barnes then proceeded to try the cases, finding all seven defendants guilty of trespassing.

NYCLU Report: Arresting Protest (04/28/2003)

New Mexico Protest - Complaint (01/15/2008)

Rank v. Jenkins - Joint Stipulation of Dismissal with Predjudice (08/15/2007)

Rank v. Jenkins - Complaint (06/28/2007)

Weise v. Jenkins - Complaint (03/15/2007)

We are One America Committee v. City of Asheville, NC Complaint (10/03/2006)
We are One America Committee v. City of Asheville, NC Complaint

ACLU Letter to Congress Urging Members to Vote "No" On the Semper Fi Act (02/26/2008)

ACLU Letter to Congress Urging Opposition to the Animal Enterprise Act, S. 1926 and H.R. 4239 (03/06/2006)

Interested Persons Memo: Section-by-Section Analysis of Justice Department draft "Domestic Security Enhancement Act of 2003," also known as "PATRIOT Act II" (02/14/2003)

How the USA PATRIOT Act redefines "Domestic Terrorism" (12/06/2002)

Attorney General John Ashcroft's Assault on Civil Liberties (Updated September 2003) (10/30/2002)

Office of Presidential Advance - Presidential Advance Manual (06/28/2007)

ACLU-NJ SECURES RIGHT TO DISPLAY POLITICAL LAWN SIGNS (01/03/2005)

April 5th, 2004, DOJ OLC Opinion Condoning Controversial FBI Surveillance Tactics (08/16/2004)
The Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel issued this previously undisclosed memorandum in support of the FBI's controversial surveillance of peaceful protesters. The memo was issued in response to an internal complaint by a government employee.

USAction Joins Nationwide Lawsuit to Challenge Use of "Protest Zones"; Charges Administration Used Barriers to Silence Anti-Bush Sentiments (09/23/2003)
USAction, a progressive activist organization dedicated to winning social and economic justice for all, represents over three million members in 33 affiliates, with statewide organizations in 23 states. We advocate for affordable healthcare and public education, promoting corporate responsibility and making the country's tax system fairer. We achieve these goals through voter mobilization, public education, legislative lobbying and direct actions, including protests. We firmly believe in exercising our First Amendment rights.

Free Speech Under Fire: The ACLU Challenge to "Protest Zones" (09/23/2003)
List of Plaintiffs

Free Speech Under Fire: The ACLU Challenge to "Protest Zones" (09/23/2003)
Fact Sheet