American Civil Liberties Union

National Security:
Throughout U.S. history "national security" has often been used as a pretext for massive violations of individual rights. The terrorist attacks on Sept. 11 mobilized our country in the fight against terrorism. However, this also launched a serious civil liberties crises. The ACLU continues to challenge policies like the USA Patriot Act, and creates campaigns like Safe and Free.


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National Security : Terrorism and Emergency Powers : Press Releases

ACLU Submits Recommendations for Military Tribunals; Urges Adherence to Bush Demand for "Full and Fair" Trials (01/16/2002)
WASHINGTON -- The American Civil Liberties Union today urged the Department of Defense to uphold American ideals - and international standards - of fairness, equal protection under law and due process when it establishes regulations for President Bush's military tribunal order. 

ACLU of Washington Files Claims on Behalf of Somali Businessmen Seeking Compensation for Government Raids (12/19/2001)
SEATTLE--The American Civil Liberties Union of Washington today filed claims with the U.S. Treasury Department on behalf of two Somali businessmen in Seattle who seek fair compensation for more than $300,000 in losses suffered from a raid in early November by agents seeking assets of a completely separate money-transfer business. 

ACLU of Maryland Announces Hotline for Immigrants To Be Questioned by FBI (12/14/2001)
BALTIMORE-In response to the Department of Justice's plan to interview thousands of Middle Eastern men across the country, the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland today announced the creation of a "Know Your Rights" telephone hotline for the approximately 85 men in the state who have been targeted for questioning by the FBI. 

ACLU of NJ and Immigrant Advocates Offer Free Legal Advice To People Questioned in Federal "Dragnet" Investigation (12/14/2001)
NEWARK, NJ--The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey announced today that it is working with Muslim advocates and immigration attorneys to provide attorneys to accompany any individuals in New Jersey who are questioned by officials as part of a U.S. Department of Justice "dragnet" investigation. 

ACLU 'Roundtable' in The New Yorker Explores Diverse Views on Safety and Freedom (12/10/2001)
NEW YORK--Seeking to further the critical dialogue on civil liberties and safety in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the American Civil Liberties Union today is publishing excerpts from a recent series of conversations it convened with a diverse group of people on the question, ""Can we be both safe and free?"" 

ACLU Urges Congress to Leash New Military Tribunals, Reestablish Oversight (11/30/2001)
WASHINGTON -- The American Civil Liberties Union called on the nation's legislature to resume its oversight responsibilities over the Administration and place a leash on the President's highly controversial military tribunal order. 

Bush Order on Military Tribunals is Further Evidence That Government is Abandoning Democracy's Checks and Balances (11/14/2001)
WASHINGTON -- The American Civil Liberties Union is deeply disturbed by President Bush's executive order allowing special military tribunals to try non-citizens charged with terrorism. The tribunals would even reach non-citizens in the United States, including lawful permanent residents. 

Upsetting Checks and Balances: Congressional Hostility to Courts in Times of Crisis, Statement of Anthony D. Romero (11/01/2001)
Earlier this week, there was a similar press briefing across town called by Attorney General Ashcroft and FBI Director Mueller. At that press conference, they warned the American public of other terrorist attacks that might be forthcoming. While it was not clear what Mr. Ashcroft and Mr. Mueller wanted the public to do, they told Americans to remain vigilant. 

Upsetting Checks and Balances: Congressional Hostility to Courts in Times of Crisis, Statement of Laura W. Murphy (11/01/2001)
WASHINGTON -- Today's forum on the effects of the new anti-terrorism law and the release of the ACLU's report on the history and danger of court-stripping could not have come at a more opportune time. The role of the judiciary in preserving and promoting individual rights has been much maligned in recent years and these sentiments were echoed significantly in many of the court-stripping measures of last week's new anti-terrorism law. 

ACLU of Illinois Welcomes State Attorney General's Admission That Terrorism Definition Is Too Broad (11/01/2001)
CHICAGO--Restating a call for state lawmakers to resist a rush to enact flawed legislation granting sweeping new powers for state and local law enforcement, the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois today welcomed an acknowledgment by state Attorney General Jim Ryan that his proposed legislation's definition of terrorism is "too broad" and requires "refinement." 

Upsetting Checks and Balances: Congressional Hostility to Courts in Times of Crisis, Statement of Laurie Kozuba (11/01/2001)
I'd like to thank the ACLU for inviting me to be a part of this important event. It is an honor to be here.

Upsetting Checks and Balances: Congressional Hostility to Courts in Times of Crisis, Statement of Ronald Weich (11/01/2001)
Several months ago, the American Civil Liberties Union asked me to prepare a policy report on three 1996 laws that restricted the ability of courts to review executive actions. We had no idea at that time how important it would become to consider this subject in the Fall of 2001. 

New Anti-Terrorism Law Continues Dangerous Trend Of Stripping Federal Judiciary Of Authority (11/01/2001)
WASHINGTON -- At first glance, the anti-terrorism legislation recently signed into law by President Bush appears to only be a means to give law enforcement officials the necessary tools to find terrorists and prevent future attacks. But in reality, the USA Patriot Act continues an alarming trend known as court-stripping-removing authority from the judiciary-in times of crisis. The origins of this trend are examined in Upsetting Checks and Balances: Congressional Hostility Toward the Courts In Times of Crisis, a report released today at a forum hosted by the American Civil Liberties Union. 

ACLU of Illinois Calls on State Lawmakers to Assess Need for, Impact of Proposed Anti-Terrorism Legislation (10/31/2001)
CHICAGO--Calling for careful deliberation and close analysis, the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois today asked a legislative panel to withhold approval of the proposed state Comprehensive Anti-Terrorism Act of 2001 during November's abbreviated "veto" session. 

ACLU Says Congress Should Treat Administration Proposal Carefully; Says Many Provisions Go Far Beyond Anti-Terrorism Needs (10/20/2001)
WASHINGTON -- The American Civil Liberties Union today urged Congress to approach cautiously new legislation proposed by the Bush Administration after last week's terrorist attacks, saying that many of its provisions go far beyond any powers conceivably necessary to fight terrorism in the United States. 

"Trust Us, We're the Government" - ACLU Looks at Domestic Surveillance and the Need to Watch the Watchers in Times of Crisis (10/10/2001)
The Bush Administration's defense of its new, and frighteningly broad, anti-terrorism bill is also being couched in exactly these terms. Unfortunately, history has also shown us that, more often that not, these expansions of domestic surveillance powers are used to violate the freedoms guaranteed to the American public by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. 

"Don't Let Terrorism Rewrite the Constitution," New ACLU Advertisement Urges (10/01/2001)
NEW YORK--Our nation's commitment to a free and safe society is more important than ever, the American Civil Liberties Union declared today in a new advertisement responding to the September 11 terrorists attacks on New York and Washington. 

ACLU Staff and Building Safe and Sound (09/20/2001)
The ACLU's New York national office was undamaged by the September 11th terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. The building was evacuated and all staff of the ACLU and the New York Civil Liberties Union, which shares our location, are safe. 

Broad New Coalition Calls For Reasoned Debate To Protect National Security and Crucial American Freedoms (09/19/2001)
At a noon news conference on Thursday, September 20, a large coalition - including organizations of every political stripe - will release a 10-point statement of principles demonstrating its solidarity with the nation and its leaders and offering guidance for the preservation of freedom and civil liberties in the wake of the events of September 11th.Who:The signatories will include a broad array of civil liberties, civil rights, ethnic, religious, privacy, social conservative and government watchdog groups from all ends of the political spectrum. Speakers will include:

ACLU Joins Nation in Horror Over Terrorist Attacks (09/12/2001)
WASHINGTON -- The American Civil Liberties Union joins the nation today in grieving over the devastating loss of life resulting from the joint attacks against the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and the crash of the airplane outside of Pittsburgh. 

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