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Appeals Court Orders Defense Department To Release Detainee Abuse Photos In ACLU Lawsuit (09/22/2008)
NEW YORK – A federal court today ordered the Department of Defense to release photographs depicting the abuse of detainees by U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit rejected the government's appeal of a 2006 order directing the Defense Department to release the photos. Today's decision comes as part of an American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit seeking information on the abuse of prisoners held in U.S. custody overseas.

ACLU Asks Court To Strike Down Unconstitutional Spying Law (09/12/2008)
NEW YORK – The FISA Amendments Act is the most sweeping surveillance bill ever enacted by Congress and should be struck down as unconstitutional because it utterly fails to protect U.S. residents' privacy and free speech rights, according to a brief filed in federal court today by the American Civil Liberties Union. This is the first legal brief challenging the constitutionality of the new wiretapping law and is part of the ACLU's landmark lawsuit to stop the government from conducting surveillance under the law.

Federal Judge Orders Justice Department To Turn Over Memos Authorizing Torture Or Justify Withholding Them (09/02/2008)
NEW YORK – A federal judge has ordered the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) to turn over three memos that authorized the extremely harsh treatment of prisoners in CIA custody or explain by October 3 why these memos can lawfully be withheld. The American Civil Liberties Union called for the immediate release of the May 2005 OLC memos as part of its Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit requesting information on the treatment and interrogation of detainees in U.S. custody overseas.

FISA Court Denies Public Access To Spy Law Proceedings (08/29/2008)
WASHINGTON - In a decision issued late Thursday, a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) judge denied a motion from the American Civil Liberties Union seeking to bring a measure of transparency to the court's legal review of the Bush administration's new spying law.

ACLU Asks Appeals Court To Affirm Decision Striking Down Patriot Act's "National Security Letter" Provision (08/27/2008)
NEW YORK – In oral arguments today, the American Civil Liberties Union urged a federal appeals court to uphold a decision striking down the national security letter (NSL) provision of the Patriot Act. This provision gives the FBI the authority to issue letters demanding private information about people within the United States, and to place the recipients of the letters under indefinite gag orders. Recent reports issued by the Department of Justice's Office of the Inspector General (OIG) have revealed the FBI's widespread, systemic abuse of its NSL power.

ACLU Obtains Key Memos Authorizing CIA Torture Methods (07/24/2008)
NEW YORK – The American Civil Liberties Union today obtained three redacted documents related to the Bush administration's brutal interrogation policies, including a previously withheld Justice Department memo authorizing the CIA's use of torture. The government was ordered to turn over the documents in response to an ongoing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit brought in 2004 by the ACLU and other organizations seeking records on the treatment of prisoners in U.S. custody overseas.

Court To Hear Arguments Today In Case Testing Material Support Statute (04/18/2008)
NEW YORK - A federal court will hear arguments today in a case that tests a material support statute that the American Civil Liberties Union and the New York Civil Liberties Union call unconstitutional. Zeinab Taleb-Jedi, an American citizen, faces up to 15 years in prison for her alleged support of a group that has been designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. government. In November 2007, the ACLU filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the case, arguing that the law criminalizing material support to alleged terrorist organizations is unconstitutional because it punishes political association with blacklisted organizations without requiring the government to show a person intends to engage in or support any criminal activity.

Court-Ordered Emergency Action Needed to Address New York State’s Unconstitutional Public Defense System, NYCLU Charges (03/27/2008)
The New York Civil Liberties Union today filed a request for immediate emergency relief to address New York State’s broken public defense system.

With Thousands of Cameras in the Congestion Pricing Plan, City Must Do More to Protect New Yorkers' Personal Privacy (03/24/2008)
The New York Civil Liberties Union today asked the city to consider the impact the proposed congestion pricing plan would have on New Yorkers’ privacy.

Federal Appeals Court to Hear NYCLU Arguments About Secret Court Opinion and NSA Warrantless Wiretapping (03/21/2008)
The United States Court of Appeals in Manhattan will hear arguments Monday morning in a criminal prosecution that presents a challenge to the constitutionality of the National Security Agency’s warrantless wiretapping program as well as a challenge to a secret lower court order and related government filings about the NSA program. The New York Civil Liberties Union is directly challenging the secret court order and secret government filings and also has filed a separate friend-of-the-court brief about the NSA program.

NYCLU Hails Defeat of Suffolk County Anti-Immigrant Proposal (03/18/2008)
NEW YORK - The New York Civil Liberties Union today hailed the demise of an anti-immigrant proposal by Suffolk County lawmakers that would have required all 15,000 licensed contractors in the county to prove their employees’ working status.

ACLU Asks Appeals Court To Affirm Decision Striking Down Patriot Act ”National Security Letter” Provision (03/14/2008)
NEW YORK - In a brief filed under seal on Monday and unsealed yesterday, the American Civil Liberties Union urged a federal appellate court to uphold a lower court decision striking down the National Security Letter (NSL) provision of the Patriot Act. The provision gives the FBI the authority to issue letters demanding private information about people within the United States, and to place the recipients of the letters under indefinite gag order. A report released on Thursday by the Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) revealed widespread, systemic abuse of the NSL power by the FBI.

NYCLU Study Finds Lack of Standards Impedes Access to Women's Health Care in New York Jails; Prompts State Action (03/04/2008)
NEW YORK - Women incarcerated in New York State are legally entitled to reproductive health care, but few county jails have policies ensuring access to such care, according to a report released today by the Reproductive Rights Project of the New York Civil Liberties Union.

NYCLU and Journalist Sue to End Secrecy Surrounding NYPD Press Passes (02/20/2008)
The New York Civil Liberties Union today filed a lawsuit in state court challenging the NYPD’s refusal to disclose information about its policy for issuing press passes to journalists covering the cops.

Charges Dismissed Against Reporter Who Was Victim of NYPD Racial Profiling as Figures Show Hundreds of Thousands of Innocent Black New Yorkers Were Stopped-and-Frisked in 2007 (02/13/2008)
NEW YORK – A Bronx Criminal Court judge has dismissed charges against a black New York Post reporter who was the victim of racial profiling by NYPD officers. The dismissal came on the same day that the NYPD quietly released figures showing that police made nearly half a million stops in 2007, most of which were of black and Latino New Yorkers.

Appeals Court Says State Must Recognize Canadian Marriage of New York Lesbian Couple (02/01/2008)
NEW YORK – In a unanimous decision, a New York appellate court today ruled that marriages of same-sex couples entered into outside of New York must be recognized. The case, filed by the New York Civil Liberties Union, is the first appellate court decision in the state and the first known decision in the country to hold that a valid same-sex marriage must be recognized here.

New York County’s Employment Proposal Is Discriminatory And Unnecessary (01/24/2008)
NEW YORK – A proposal by Suffolk County, New York lawmakers that would require that all 15,000 licensed contractors in the county prove their employees’ working status amounts to political posturing that promotes discrimination, according to the New York Civil Liberties Union.

NYPD Releases Stop-and-Frisk Database in Face of NYCLU Lawsuit (01/24/2008)
NEW YORK – The New York City Police Department has secretly released its electronic database detailing police stops of hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers to a Midwestern university in the face of a New York Civil Liberties Union lawsuit seeking to make that information public.

Advocates Testify On Impact Of School Suspensions And Demand Passage Of The Student Safety Act (01/23/2008)
NEW YORK – The New York Civil Liberties Union and a coalition of advocates today called on the New York City Council to pass the Student Safety Act, legislation that would provide much-needed transparency and scrutiny to the disciplinary and security policies in New York City public schools.

Congestion Pricing Raises Privacy Concerns (01/16/2008)
January 16, 2007 -- The New York Civil Liberties Union has asked the commission charged with reviewing Mayor Bloomberg’s congestion pricing proposal to assure any plan it recommends will seek to protect New Yorkers’ privacy rights.

NYCLU Analysis: Real ID Regulations Jeopardize Rights, Liberties And State Budget (01/15/2008)
NEW YORK-Final federal regulations for implementing the Real ID Act only intensify concerns that the law would gravely threaten privacy rights by establishing a national identification system, according to an analysis by the New York Civil Liberties Union.

Bar Association, Prestigious Academics & NY Times Join NYCLU Lawsuit Against NYPD (01/10/2008)
The New York Times, the Association of the Bar of the City of New York and a group of 21 academics from across the country plan to file briefs in support of the New York Civil Liberties Union’s lawsuit challenging the NYPD’s refusal to disclose an electronic database detailing police stops of hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers, most of whom were black and Latino.

NYCLU Unveils New Advocacy Department (01/09/2008)
NEW YORK - The New York Civil Liberties Union has launched an advocacy department to lead public advocacy campaigns to defend and promote civil rights and civil liberties throughout the state.

Supreme Court Review of Lethal Injection Case Encouraging, Says NYCLU (01/07/2008)
NEW YORK - The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments today in a case challenging the use of lethal injection to execute people. According to the New York Civil Liberties Union, the Court’s decision to take the case is an encouraging development in the campaign to abolish the death penalty in the United States.

School District Affirms Student Speech Rights After 10th Grader Punished for ‘gay? fine by me’ T-Shirt (12/07/2007)
NEW YORK -- The Spencer-Van Etten School District has met a demand from the New York Civil Liberties Union that it send a message directly to its student body affirming students’ constitutional right to free speech. The development occurred in response to the censorship of a Tioga County High School student for wearing a “gay? fine by me” T-shirt.

NYCLU Sues NYPD for Harassing Photographers (12/06/2007)
NEW YORK – The New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) today filed a lawsuit against the New York Police Department (NYPD) in federal court on behalf of a Columbia University graduate student of Indian descent who was unlawfully handcuffed and detained in July after a police officer saw him snapping photographs near a subway station in upper Manhattan.

NYCLU Prompts Duane Reade to Correct Mistakes and Ensure Lawful Sale of Emergency Contraception (12/03/2007)
NEW YORK – The New York Civil Liberties Union provided Duane Reade pharmacies a refresher course on state and federal privacy laws after a customer at a Brooklyn store was illegally instructed to record her personal information before she could purchase over-the-counter emergency contraception known as Plan B.

Reality Busts Through the Door of the New York Post (12/03/2007)
NEW YORK - Despite Editorial Page's Stance in Favor of Racially Biased Stop-and-Frisk Tactics, the Humiliation of One of their Reporters at the Hands of the NYPD is Too Much to Ignore

Analysis of New NYPD Stop-and-Frisk Data Reveals Dramatic Impact on Black New Yorkers (11/26/2007)
NEW YORK – A New York Civil Liberties Union analysis of recently released New York Police Department data about police stops and frisks of New Yorkers reveals the black community in New York continues to be the target of improper stops and frisks by police officers.

Flawed Report Glosses Over Racial Disparities in NYPD's Stop-and-Frisk Practices (11/20/2007)
NEW YORK – A study commissioned by the New York Police Department on racial disparities in the department’s stop-and-frisk practices does nothing to ease concerns about possible racial profiling of New Yorkers, and amplifies the need for an independent analysis of the NYPD’s tactics.

NYCLU Sues NYPD to Force Public Release of Stop-and-Frisk Database (11/13/2007)
The New York Civil Liberties Union today filed a lawsuit in State Supreme Court challenging the NYPD’s refusal to disclose an electronic database detailing police stops of hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers, most of whom were black and Latino.

New York State Failing its Constitutional Duty on Public Defense (11/08/2007)
New York State is failing in its constitutional duty to provide effective counsel to New Yorkers accused of crimes who cannot afford to pay private lawyers, according to a landmark lawsuit filed today by the New York Civil Liberties Union and the law firm of Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP.

New York State Failing its Constitutional Duty on Public Defense, NYCLU Lawsuit Charges (11/08/2007)
NEW YORK – New York State is failing in its constitutional duty to provide effective counsel to New Yorkers accused of crimes who cannot afford to pay private lawyers, according to a landmark class action lawsuit filed today by the New York Civil Liberties Union and the law firm of Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP.

New York Senate Hearings Highlight Need to Reverse Course on Real ID (10/31/2007)
NEW YORK – In response to today’s New York Senate hearing on “Protecting Our State’s Security,” which will include a discussion on Governor Eliot Spitzer’s recent decision to submit to the Real ID Act, the following can be attributed to Donna Lieberman, Executive Director of the New York Civil Liberties Union: “Governor Spitzer should reverse course and reject the implementation of the Real ID Act in New York State. The state Senate should pass Res. No. J2096, which is an anti-Real ID Act resolution currently co-sponsored by 22 senators.

NYCLU Releases NYPD Firearms Discharge Report, Calls on NYPD to Reveal Race of Shooting Victims (10/22/2007)
NEW YORK - In a letter sent this morning to New York City Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, the New York Civil Liberties Union called on the NYPD to release documents identifying the race of all people shot by the police, as well as all of the annual reports the NYPD has compiled about its shooting practices.

U.S. Supreme Court Denies Review of New York Law Requiring Insurers to Cover Contraceptives (10/01/2007)
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Supreme Court today turned down a request by Catholic Charities of New York to review a state court decision requiring insurance companies to include contraceptive coverage in drug benefit packages. The Court's refusal to hear the case leaves in place a law that promotes women's health and addresses gender discrimination while appropriately protecting religious freedom.

NYCLU Praises Expansion of Immigrant Access to Driver’s Licenses (09/21/2007)
NEW YORK -- The New York Civil Liberties Union, along with immigrants' rights and labor organizations, applauds Governor Eliot Spitzer’s decision to broaden immigrant access to driver’s licenses. Under guidelines announced today, New Yorkers can obtain a driver’s license without regard to their immigration status.

Federal Court Strikes Down National Security Letter Provision of Patriot Act (09/06/2007)
NEW YORK - A federal court today struck down the amended Patriot Act's National Security Letter (NSL) provision. The law has permitted the FBI to issue NSLs demanding private information about people within the United States without court approval, and to gag those who receive NSLs from discussing them. The court found that the gag power was unconstitutional and that because the statute prevented courts from engaging in meaningful judicial review of gags, it violated the First Amendment and the principle of separation of powers.

NYCLU Says New York City’s “Ring of Steel” Surveillance Plan Raises Privacy Concerns (07/09/2007)
NEW YORK - The New York Civil Liberties Union today called on city officials to ensure that any new surveillance plan for New York City is subject to public input and external oversight mechanisms and includes significant privacy protections to prevent abuse.

NYCLU Applauds Passage of Bill Enabling Working Mothers to Continue Nursing (06/21/2007)
NEW YORK - The New York Civil Liberties Union today applauded the passage in the New York State Legislature of a bill that would ensure working mothers' right to pump breast milk during their work breaks, enabling them to continue breastfeeding upon returning to work after giving birth.

NYCLU Calls On NYPD To Investigate Mass Arrest Of Brooklyn Youth (06/08/2007)
NEW YORK -  The New York Civil Liberties Union today called on the New York Police Department to conduct a thorough investigation into the recent arrest of nearly three dozen students walking to the funeral of a friend. The mass arrests reflect an overly aggressive approach to perceived gang association and raise concerns about racial profiling, NYCLU said.

NYCLU Supports Young Bronx Mothers' Call for Adequate Services as City Closes Schools for Pregnant Students (06/08/2007)
NEW YORK - The New York Civil Liberties Union today stood in support of a coalition of Bronx young mothers in their demand that pregnant and parenting students be guaranteed adequate support services after the Department of Education's decision to close the city's "pregnancy schools."

NYCLU Urges City Council to Oppose Jail Standard Changes (06/07/2007)
NEW YORK - In testimony today before the New York City Council, the New York Civil Liberties Union will argue that proposed changes to the Minimum Standards governing New York City jails would erode civil liberties and public safety and unfairly punish pre-trial prisoners who have not been convicted of any crime. Along with a coalition of advocates, the NYCLU will ask the City Council to urge the New York City Board of Correction to abandon the proposed changes.

New York City to Pay $60,000 to Settle Lawsuit by Bronx Teachers Arrested for Questioning Police Treatment of Students (05/31/2007)
NEW YORK - The New York Civil Liberties Union and co-counsel Morrison & Foerster LLP today announced the settlement of a lawsuit filed last year on behalf of two high school teachers who were arrested, handcuffed and verbally abused by the New York Police Department without cause after they questioned police officers handcuffing students who had been involved in a fight.

New York City Fails to Meet Pregnant and Parenting Students' Needs, NYCLU Says (05/24/2007)
NEW YORK - The New York Civil Liberties Union today expressed concern that the New York City Department of Education's plan to close four public high schools for pregnant students is not accompanied by a plan to better meet the needs of pregnant and parenting teens citywide.

Following NYCLU Lawsuit, New York City Agrees To Reform Film Permit Scheme (05/23/2007)
NEW YORK - The New York Civil Liberties Union hailed a settlement released today, in which New York City has agreed to create, for the first time, written rules governing the issuance of permits for film makers and photographers. Under the new rules, which are to be published Friday in the City Record, film makers and photographers using hand-held equipment no longer will be required to obtain city permits or to have $1 million of insurance.

New NYPD Documents Show Broad Surveillance of Peaceful Political Activity Before Republican National Convention (05/16/2007)
NEW YORK – The New York Civil Liberties Union today published, at a press conference and on its website, approximately 600 pages of NYPD intelligence documents that detail a major—and often unlawful—police surveillance operation of political activity preceding the Republican National Convention in 2004.

Police Documents Released by NYCLU Show Broad Surveillance of Peaceful Political Activity Before RNC (05/16/2007)
NEW YORK - The New York Civil Liberties Union today released approximately 600 pages of NYPD intelligence documents that detail a major and often unlawful NYPD political surveillance operation of political activity preceding the 2004 Republican National Convention.

In Victory for Free Expression, NYCLU and Restaurateur Send Uncensored Postcards Through U.S. Postal Service (05/15/2007)
NEW YORK - The New York Civil Liberties Union joined renowned restaurateur Jean-Claude Baker on Tuesday to give a triumphant send-off to a batch of postcards that have been the subject of a free speech battle between Baker and the United States Postal Service.

NYCLU Testifies Before United Nations Migrants' Rights Expert on Anti-Immigrant Ordinances (05/15/2007)
NEW YORK - In testimony before the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants, the New York Civil Liberties Union expressed concern over the growing movement in towns, cities, and counties across the United States to introduce local anti-immigrant ordinances that attempt to drive out undocumented immigrants and their families, and to punish those who employ or rent to them.

Governor Errs In Proposing Massive Expansion of DNA Databank, NYCLU Charges (05/14/2007)
NEW YORK - The New York Civil Liberties Union today sharply criticized Governor Eliot Spitzer's proposal to include in the state's databank DNA samples from nearly every person convicted of a crime, including offenses involving low-level, non-contact crimes.

Treatment Of Immigrants In U.S. Violates International Standards, NYCLU And Human Rights Groups Tell U.N. (05/11/2007)
NEW YORK - The New York Civil Liberties Union will join community organizations, immigrant rights groups and officials tomorrow in a public hearing on the occasion of the visit by Jorge Bustamante, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants, to the New York area.

NYCLU Joins Senate Democrats in Backing Proposed Legislation Protecting Reproductive Health and Privacy (05/08/2007)
NEW YORK - The New York Civil Liberties Union today joined Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith and the Senate Democrats in supporting the Reproductive Health and Privacy Protection Act, which would update New York law to protect reproductive rights for all New Yorkers.

NYCLU Celebrates Proposed Legislation Protecting Reproductive Health and Privacy for New York Women (04/26/2007)
NEW YORK - The New York Civil Liberties Union today applauded Governor Eliot Spitzer's pledge to introduce legislation that would update New York's reproductive rights law to protect reproductive rights for all New Yorkers.

Proposed Amendments to City Lobbying Law Threaten Individuals and Families Associated with Controversial Organizations, NYCLU Testifies (04/11/2007)
NEW YORK - In testimony before the New York City Council today, the New York Civil Liberties Union condemned proposed amendments to the city's lobbying law that would require the disclosure of personal information about lobbyists and their families.

Arrest of 13-Year-Old for Writing on Desk Should Be Wake-up Call for City, NYCLU Says (04/06/2007)
NEW YORK - The New York Civil Liberties Union today condemned the treatment of a 13-year-old girl who was arrested after she wrote the word "okay" on her school desk. The NYCLU said the incident sheds light on the fatal flaws in New York City's use of law enforcement to impose discipline in classrooms.

Gloversville Pharmacist Should Be Disciplined for Refusing to Honor Prescriptions for EC Refills, NYCLU and Planned Parenthood Charge (04/05/2007)
NEW YORK - In a complaint filed on behalf of a health care provider at Planned Parenthood Mohawk Hudson, the New York Civil Liberties Union today charged that a Rite Aid pharmacist who refused to fill a patient's prescription for refill doses of Emergency Contraception ("EC") should be disciplined by the New York State Board of Pharmacy for putting moralistic judgments before her professional responsibilities. This is the second complaint filed against the Rite Aid pharmacist.

NYCLU Releases RNC Documents That City Tried to Conceal (03/21/2007)
NEW YORK – The New York Civil Liberties Union today made public reams of documents and dozens of hours of video about the New York Police Department’s policing of the 2004 Republican National Convention. The release follows a federal judge’s ruling last month that New York City could not stop the NYCLU from sharing the documents with the public.

NYCLU and ACLU Report Calls for End to Over-Policing in New York City Schools (03/18/2007)
NEW YORK - The massive and aggressive police presence in public schools has transformed New York City classrooms into hostile and dysfunctional environments that are damaging to students and disempower educators, the New York Civil Liberties Union and the American Civil Liberties Union said in a report released today.

U.S. Justice Department Joins NYCLU in Fight for Religious Freedom for New York Prison Guards (03/15/2007)
NEW YORK - The United States Department of Justice today joined the New York Civil Liberties Union in challenging a state policy that forbids corrections officers from wearing religious head coverings.

NYCLU Says School District Cannot Suspend Students Who Fought Censorship by Reciting Vagina Monologues (03/13/2007)
NEW YORK - The New York Civil Liberties Union today expressed its strong support for three Westchester public high school students who were suspended for saying the word "vagina" during their performance last week of a passage from Eve Ensler's The Vagina Monologues.

Proposed Suffolk County Law Unfairly Criminalizes Day Laborers, NYCLU Testifies (03/06/2007)
NEW YORK- The New York Civil Liberties Union today expressed its firm opposition to an anti-immigrant ordinance under consideration by the Suffolk County legislature, arguing in testimony that the bill criminalizes "standing while Latino" by unfairly targeting day laborers seeking work.

NYCLU Says New NYPD Stop-and-Frisk Database Raises Major Privacy Concerns (02/05/2007)
NEW YORK - The New York Civil Liberties Union today raised major concerns about the revelation that the New York City Police Department is compiling a massive new database of law-abiding New Yorkers, mostly black and Hispanic, who have been stopped by the police. The NYCLU demanded that the NYPD take immediate steps to protect the privacy rights of persons who are stopped and frisked but not convicted of a crime.

NYCLU Expresses Shock and Sadness at Death Penalty Sentence, Pledges Support for Appeal (01/30/2007)
NEW YORK - The New York Civil Liberties Union today expressed shock and sadness at a federal jury's decision to impose a death sentence in New York.

City Cannot Block Release of NYPD Materials from Republican National Convention, Federal Court Rules (01/22/2007)
NEW YORK - A federal judge today rejected the city's attempt to block the New York Civil Liberties Union from making public extensive information on the mass arrests and detentions that occurred during the 2004 Republic National Convention.

Defense Department Reforms Student Military Recruiting Database to Settle NYCLU Lawsuit (01/09/2007)
NEW YORK - In an agreement to settle a lawsuit brought by the New York Civil Liberties Union on behalf of several high school students, the Department of Defense today announced major changes to its database of information about high school students, which is used for military recruitment efforts. The changes will protect the privacy of American high school students and give students and their families more tools to exempt themselves from aggressive military recruitment in their schools and their homes, the NYCLU said.

NYCLU Report Documents Rapid Proliferation of Video Surveillance Cameras (12/14/2006)
NEW YORK - New York City is creating a massive video surveillance infrastructure, according to a New York Civil Liberties Union report released today. The proliferation of video surveillance cameras without legal or regulatory constraints has profound implications for basic rights and liberties, said the NYCLU.

In Wake of Bell Shooting, NYCLU Protests NYPD Failure to Comply with Racial Profiling Reform Mandated After Diallo Shooting (11/29/2006)
NEW YORK - In light of rekindled debates about race and policing after the Sean Bell shooting, the New York Civil Liberties Union today protested the New York Police Department’s failure to comply with a city law enacted in the aftermath of the 1999 Amadou Diallo police shooting to address concerns about racial profiling.

Proposed New York State Hospital Closures, Mergers and Downsizings Could Endanger Women's Health, Groups Warn (11/28/2006)
NEW YORK - Proposed closings, downsizings and consolidations of New York hospitals recommended by a state commission today could endanger community access to reproductive health services, women's health advocates warned today.

Pentagon Wrongfully Withholding Images of Detainee Abuse, ACLU Tells Court (11/20/2006)
NEW YORK - The American Civil Liberties Union appeared in court today to challenge the government’s appeal of an order directing the Defense Department to release 21 photographs depicting abuse of detainees by U.S. forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.

NYCLU Says City Agency Allowed Massive Backlog of Police Misconduct Cases (11/14/2006)
NEW YORK - The New York Civil Liberties Union today said it has obtained documents showing that a city agency allowed a backlog of more than 800 police misconduct cases to build up and then dispensed with them all in one day.

NYCLU Urges NYPD to Set Boundaries for "Professional Courtesy" (11/13/2006)
NEW YORK - In response to reports that New Yorkers are using police union cards to avoid prosecution, the New York Civil Liberties Union today called on the New York City Police Department to assure that the "professional courtesy" given police officers and their friends and families does not turn into law-enforcement immunity.

U.S. Supreme Court to Hear Argument in Federal Abortion Ban Challenges (11/08/2006)
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Supreme Court will hear argument today in two legal challenges to a federal ban on abortion. The American Civil Liberties Union and the National Abortion Federation (NAF) submitted friend-of-the-court briefs in each of the cases. Both organizations have called on the Court to hold women’s health paramount by affirming lower court decisions striking down the ban.

NYCLU to Monitor Elections Statewide Today (11/07/2006)
NEW YORK -- The New York Civil Liberties Union announced today that it is monitoring elections statewide and will respond to complaints from voters who experience obstacles at the polls.

NYCLU Decries Midwood Hate Crime, Cites Need for Reforms (11/06/2006)
NEW YORK - The New York Civil Liberties Union today expressed dismay over the vicious bias assault perpetrated against a young Pakistani man in the Midwood section of Brooklyn last Sunday, October 29.

ACLU and NYCLU Hail Decision Upholding Law Requiring Insurers to Cover Contraceptives (10/19/2006)
ALBANY, NY - The American Civil Liberties Union and the New York Civil Liberties Union today praised a decision by the highest court in New York upholding a law requiring insurance companies to include contraceptive coverage in drug benefit packages. The groups called the today’s unanimous decision a victory for women’s health and an important step toward ending gender discrimination in insurance coverage.

NYCLU Issues Harsh Critique of Proposal to Require Video Surveillance at Nightclubs (10/18/2006)
NEW YORK -- In testimony presented before the New York City Council today the New York Civil Liberties Union issued a detailed and highly critical analysis of pending legislation that would require cabarets and dance clubs to install video surveillance cameras at entrances and exits.

Gerrymandering Practices Subvert Democracy, NYCLU Testifies (10/17/2006)
NEW YORK -- The New York State Legislature must end the political redistricting practices that have denied New Yorkers their constitutionally protected right to a meaningful vote, the New York Civil Liberties Union told state lawmakers today.

Jury Sides with Women Workers, ACLU in Harassment Case (09/29/2006)
NEW YORK -- After a weeklong trial, a jury today found the owner of an upper Manhattan discount retail store guilty of assaulting and sexually harassing three Latina workers. The verdict comes in a case brought by the American Civil Liberties Union Women’s Rights Project.

NYCLU Sues Village of Bellport to End Requirement That Protestors Buy $2 Million in Insurance (09/27/2006)
NEW YORK -- The New York Civil Liberties Union today filed a lawsuit to force the village of Bellport to drop an arbitrary and unconstitutional requirement that groups wishing to march in the street must purchase $2 million in insurance and indemnify the village from liability as a condition of receiving protest permits.

Girls Abused in New York’s Juvenile Prisons, Say ACLU and Human Rights Watch (09/25/2006)
NEW YORK -- Girls in New York’s juvenile prisons are being abused and neglected by state authorities, Human Rights Watch and the American Civil Liberties Union said in a report released today.

ACLU, NYCLU, and National Abortion Federation Call on U.S. Supreme Court to Hold Women's Health Paramount In Federal Abortion Ban Challenge (09/21/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union, the New York Civil Liberties Union, and the National Abortion Federation (NAF) today submitted a friend-of-the-court brief in the U.S. Supreme Court calling on the Court to continue to hold women's health paramount when it hears argument on November 8th in challenges to a federal ban on abortion. These groups urged the Court to affirm lower court decisions striking down the ban.

Toys “R” Us Violates Law by Barring Breastfeeding in Store, NYCLU Warns (09/14/2006)
NEW YORK -- The New York Civil Liberties Union today warned the Toys “R” Us company that it violated civil rights law by telling a mother that she could not breastfeed her infant in a store.

Female and Minority Custodians in New York Can Keep Benefits Won in Discrimination Case, Judge Rules (09/12/2006)
NEW YORK -- A federal judge in Brooklyn has upheld job benefits for female and minority school custodians in a case that has been in the courts for the past ten years. The American Civil Liberties Union, which represents 22 of 59 custodians who were awarded benefits in 1999, called the decision an important victory against discrimination in the workplace.

Law Requiring Insurers to Cover Contraceptives Promotes Women’s Health and Reduces Discrimination, ACLU and NYCLU Say (09/06/2006)
ALBANY - The American Civil Liberties Union and the New York Civil Liberties Union today said a New York state law requiring insurance companies to include contraceptive coverage in drug benefit packages promotes women’s health and is an important step toward ending gender discrimination in insurance coverage. The organizations voiced support for the law as argument got underway today in court.

Prosecution of TV Provider Raises Free Speech Questions, NYCLU Says (08/24/2006)
NEW YORK -- The New York Civil Liberties Union today expressed serious concern about the prosecution of a satellite TV provider, Javed Iqbal, for allegedly importing and distributing TV broadcasts from a source of which the government disapproves.

Village Cannot Impose Prohibitive Insurance Requirement as Condition of Free Speech, NYCLU Warns (08/24/2006)
NEW YORK -- The New York Civil Liberties Union today urged the village of Bellport to drop an arbitrary and unconstitutional requirement that any group wishing to march on the street must purchase $2 million in insurance and indemnify Bellport from liability as a condition of receiving a permit.

Suffolk County Not Authorized to Pass Anti-Immigrant Law, NYCLU Testifies (08/22/2006)
NEW YORK -- The New York Civil Liberties Union expressed strong opposition today to anti-immigrant legislation that is under consideration before the Suffolk County Legislature. The NYCLU testified that the law would foster rampant discrimination and would violate the constitutional principle that local government cannot override federal law.

Pharmacists Should Be Held Accountable for Refusing to Honor Prescriptions for Emergency Contraception, NYCLU Says (08/15/2006)
NEW YORK -- The New York Civil Liberties Union today filed a complaint against three pharmacists who refused to fill patients’ prescriptions for refill doses of emergency contraception. The complaint argues that the pharmacists should be disciplined for neglecting professional responsibilities.

Reauthorized Patriot Act Still Unconstitutional, ACLU Says (08/07/2006)
NEW YORK -- The American Civil Liberties Union and the New York Civil Liberties Union announced today that they have returned to court to challenge the constitutionality of the reauthorized Patriot Act's National Security Letter (NSL) provision. The provision permits the FBI to prohibit anyone who receives an NSL from disclosing that the FBI has sought or obtained information from them.

NYCLU Criticizes Proposal to Expand NYPD Control Over Protest Activity (07/19/2006)
NEW YORK -- The New York Civil Liberties Union today criticized a New York City Police Department plan to expand police control over protest activity, pledging to call on the New York City Council to block the proposed regulations if the plan is not abandoned.

U.S. Government Increasingly Blocking Entry at the Border Because of Ideology, ACLU Says (07/12/2006)
NEW YORK -- The American Civil Liberties Union and the New York Civil Liberties Union today released new documents that indicate the government is broadly interpreting and using a controversial Patriot Act power known as the "ideological exclusion" provision to block people from entering the country. The ACLU is concerned that the provision is increasingly being used to target foreign scholars and others whose politics the government disfavors.

ACLU Denounces New York High Court Decision Denying Marriage Protections for Same-Sex Couples (07/06/2006)
ALBANY – The American Civil Liberties Union today denounced the New York Court of Appeals decision upholding by a 4 to 2 vote a state law that bars same-sex couples from marriage and the hundreds of family protections provided to married couples.

4,000 New Yorkers Call on Officials to Investigate Phone Companies' Privacy Violations (06/26/2006)
NEW YORK -- On behalf of more than 4,000 New Yorkers, the New York Civil Liberties Union has again called upon Attorney General Eliot Spitzer and the Consumer Protection Board to investigate allegations that AT&T and Verizon have improperly shared telephone records of New York residents with the National Security Agency.

ACLU and NYCLU Join V-Day Festival for Evening of Performance About Women in Prison (06/21/2006)
NEW YORK - The American Civil Liberties Union and the New York Civil Liberties Union today joined V-Day in hosting Any One of Us: Words from Prison, an evening of performance telling the stories of incarcerated women and the role of violence in their lives.

Suffolk County Police Department Discriminates Against Pregnant Officers, NYCLU and ACLU Tell Court (06/05/2006)
NEW YORK -- The New York Civil Liberties Union and the American Civil Liberties Union today began a jury trial in federal court arguing that the Suffolk County Police Department discriminates against women officers by denying them access to limited duty positions, like working the precinct desk, during their pregnancies.

ACLU Urges New York High Court to Strike Down Law Banning Same-Sex Couples from Marriage (05/31/2006)
ALBANY – The American Civil Liberties Union appeared before New York’s highest court today to urge the court to strike down a state law that bars same-sex couples from marriage and the hundreds of family protections provided to married couples.

After NYCLU Files Lawsuit, Army Grants Honorable Discharge to Soldier Who Objects to War (05/26/2006)
NEW YORK -- Under pressure from a New York Civil Liberties Union lawsuit, the U.S. Army has granted Conscientious Objector (C.O.) status and honorable discharge to Sergeant Corey D. Martin, whom the Army previously had tried to deploy while his C.O. application was still pending, the NYCLU announced today.

ACLU Launches Nationwide Action Against NSA Snooping on Americans’ Phone Calls (05/24/2006)
NEW YORK -- Responding to reports that phone companies are turning over private details about Americans’ telephone calls to the National Security Agency, the American Civil Liberties Union today launched a nationwide initiative to end illegal government spying.

Ruling in ACLU Cases, Federal Judge Says Patriot Act “Gag” Provision is Undemocratic (05/24/2006)
NEW YORK -- A federal appeals court ruled yesterday on two constitutional challenges filed by the ACLU to the Patriot Act’s National Security Letter (NSL) provision, saying in one of the cases that a district court should consider the constitutionality of the provision in light of recent amendments made by Congress.

NYCLU Will Assist with FBI Investigation into NYPD's Arrests of Convention Protesters (05/17/2006)
NEW YORK - The FBI has asked the New York Civil Liberties Union to assist in a criminal civil rights investigation into the New York City Police Department's arrest of protesters during the Republican National Convention.

HIV Activists Tell New York Department of Health to Stop Gutting Informed Consent Laws (05/15/2006)
NEW YORK – HIV activists demanded today that the New York State Department of Health stop illegally collecting medical information on people with HIV and stop its illegal end run around New York law requiring informed consent for HIV testing.

NYCLU Joins State Senator Tom Duane in Challenging Expansion of State's DNA Database (05/15/2006)
ALBANY, NY - At a news conference in Albany today, the New York Civil Liberties Union stood with State Senator Tom Duane as he called for answers to questions about legislation that would expand the state's DNA database to include DNA from all persons convicted of any crime, including non-violent felonies and misdemeanors.

NYCLU Lawsuit Challenges DoD’s Unauthorized Military Recruiting of High School Students (04/24/2006)
NEW YORK -- The New York Civil Liberties Union brought a lawsuit against the Department of Defense in federal court today, charging the Department with violating American high school students’ privacy rights and federal law by maintaining an unauthorized database of personal student information for use in military recruitment efforts.

Religious and Civil Rights Groups Urge New York’s High Court to Strike Down Laws Barring Same-Sex Couples from Marriage (04/24/2006)
ALBANY, NY -- In 14 friend-of-the-court briefs filed with the New York Court of Appeals, national and statewide religious and civil rights leaders and organizations urge the court to put an end to state laws that deny same-sex couples the protections of marriage. The court is hearing oral arguments in lawsuits brought by the American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal and others on behalf of same-sex couples on May 31, 2006.

ACLU Urges Federal Court to Lift Ban Blocking Muslim Scholar from United States (04/13/2006)
NEW YORK -- The American Civil Liberties Union and the New York Civil Liberties Union today urged a federal judge to lift the ban that prevents Professor Tariq Ramadan from entering the United States.

NYCLU Challenges Coast Guard Ban on Religious Head Coverings in License Photographs (03/28/2006)
NEW YORK -- The New York Civil Liberties Union, working with the New York University Law School Civil Rights Clinic, filed a federal lawsuit in Manhattan today challenging a Coast Guard regulation that withholds merchant marine licenses from people who do not remove their religious head coverings.

NYCLU Asks Court of Appeals to Open Secret Court Ruling on Warrantless NSA Wiretapping Program (03/24/2006)
NEW YORK -- The New York Civil Liberties Union today formally requested that the United States Court of Appeals open to public view a secret lower court order about the National Security Agency's warrantless wiretapping program. The secret order, which was neither given to the defendant in the case nor publicly released, was issued by a federal judge in Albany in response to a motion challenging the legality of the NSA's warrantless wiretapping program.

NYCLU Urges New York City Council to Support Civilian Complaint Review Board and to Reject Increased Surveillance (03/21/2006)
NEW YORK -- In testimony before the New York City Council today, the New York Civil Liberties Union urged Council members to provide the Civilian Complaint Review Board with adequate funding and to hold it accountable for recent lapses in its performance.

New York Civil Liberties Union Wins Federal Court Victory for Conscientious Objector (03/20/2006)
NEW YORK, NY - The New York Civil Liberties Union announced today that a federal district court has ordered the U.S. Army not to deploy a soldier to Afghanistan who has a pending application for Conscientious Objector (C.O.) status.

ACLU Asks Federal Court to Lift Visa Ban on Tariq Ramadan (03/15/2006)
NEW YORK -- Saying the government is violating the rights of Americans to hear constitutionally protected speech, the American Civil Liberties Union and the New York Civil Liberties Union today asked a federal court to prevent the Departments of State and Homeland Security from barring a prominent Swiss scholar from entering the country to speak to American audiences.

NYCLU Seeks FBI Files on New York Political Groups and Activists (03/14/2006)
NEW YORK -- In light of recent revelations that the Federal Bureau of Investigation and local law enforcement are spying on people engaged in peaceful political and religious activity, the New York Civil Liberties Union filed Freedom of Information requests today on behalf of itself and 14 of New York's most prominent political and religious groups to determine whether the FBI is spying on them.

NYCLU Sues Police Over Wrongful Arrest of Teachers (03/05/2006)
NEW YORK -- The New York Civil Liberties Union and co-counsel Morrison & Foerster LLP today announced the filing of a lawsuit on behalf of two high school teachers who were arrested, handcuffed and verbally abused by Police Department officers after they questioned the handcuffing of two students who had been involved in a fight.

ACLU Urges New York’s High Court to End Unfairness Against Gay Couples in Marriage (03/03/2006)
NEW YORK – The American Civil Liberties Union today asked New York’s highest court to strike down a New York law that bars lesbian and gay couples and their families from the protections of marriage.

ACLU and National Abortion Federation Call On U.S. Supreme Court to Hold Women’s Health Paramount as Court Agrees to Review Federal Abortion Ban Ruling (02/21/2006)
WASHINGTON - The National Abortion Federation (NAF) and the American Civil Liberties Union today called on the U.S. Supreme Court to hold women’s health paramount as the Court agreed to review a ruling striking down the “Partial Birth Abortion Act of 2003.” Both groups urged the Court to affirm the decision below based on three decades of legal precedent protecting women’s health.

ACLU Promises to Appeal Marriage Case for Same-Sex Couples to New York’s Highest Court (02/16/2006)
ALBANY – The American Civil Liberties Union today promised to appeal to New York’s highest court after an intermediate court refused to strike down a state law that bars same-sex couples from marriage and the hundreds of family protections afforded to married couples.

New Abu Ghraib Photos Confirm Need for Independent Counsel, ACLU Says (02/15/2006)
NEW YORK - In response to newly released images of abuse at Abu Ghraib, the American Civil Liberties Union today renewed its call for an independent investigation into widespread and systemic abuse in U.S. detention centers in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantánamo Bay.

ACLU and National Abortion Federation Hail Two Appeals Court Rulings Holding Federal Abortion Ban Unconstitutional (01/31/2006)
NEW YORK - The National Abortion Federation (NAF) and the American Civil Liberties Union today praised two rulings holding the “Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003” unconstitutional. The decisions came out of federal appeals courts in New York and California. These rulings join an Eighth Circuit decision holding the ban unconstitutional.

Tens of Thousands Still Detained Longer than Law Allows, NYCLU Study Finds (01/31/2006)
NEW YORK-- More than one third of the people who are arrested and arraigned in New York City must wait more than 24 hours in jail before even seeing a judge or being informed of the charges against them, according to a New York Civil Liberties Union study released today.

ACLU and NYCLU Applaud Court Decision Promoting Women’s Health and Ending Gender Discrimination in Insurance Coverage (01/12/2006)
ALBANY - The American Civil Liberties Union and the New York Civil Liberties Union today praised a decision by a New York court of appeals upholding a state law requiring insurance companies to include contraceptive coverage in their drug benefit packages.

Judge Rules Government Can Target American Citizens Returning From Religious Conferences as Terrorists (12/22/2005)
NEW YORK - In a case brought by the American Civil Liberties Union and the New York Civil Liberties Union, a federal judge in Buffalo, NY ruled today that the federal government can treat innocent American citizens as terrorists when returning to the United States from religious conferences, say the organizations.

NYCLU Defends Pregnant School Teacher Fired By School (11/21/2005)
NEW YORK -- The New York Civil Liberties Union today charged a private Catholic school with discriminating against an unmarried Catholic schoolteacher by firing her because she became pregnant.

NYCLU, Human Rights Groups Call for Immediate Action on New York Human Rights Legislation (10/26/2005)
NEW YORK, NY -- The New York Civil Liberties Union and leading city human rights organizations came together on the steps of City Hall this afternoon to demand that the city's leadership take action on the Human Rights in Government Operations Audit Law, proposed legislation which would change the way the city currently handles discrimination and other human and civil rights issues.

ACLU Urges New York Appeals Court to Strike Down Law Barring Same-Sex Couples from Marriage Protections (10/17/2005)
ALBANY - The American Civil Liberties Union today asked a New York appeals court to strike down a state law that bars same-sex couples from marriage and the hundreds of family protections afforded to married couples.

ACLU and National Abortion Federation Ask Appeals Court to Uphold Ruling Striking Down Federal Abortion Ban (10/06/2005)
NEW YORK - The National Abortion Federation, represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, today asked the Second Circuit Court of Appeals to uphold a lower court ruling striking down the Federal Abortion Ban, saying the ban fails to protect women's health.

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.

NYCLU Post-RNC Report Says City Must Change Protest Policies (08/30/2005)
NEW YORK -- One year to the day after the opening of the Republican National Convention in New York, the New York Civil Liberties Union issued a report reviewing police practices and proposing a range of recommendations.

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.

NYCLU Sues New York City Over Subway Bag Search Policy (08/04/2005)
NEW YORK -- In response to the New York Police Department's unprecedented policy of subjecting millions of New Yorkers to suspicionless searches, the New York Civil Liberties Union today filed a lawsuit to halt the practice.

NYCLU Urges Commuters to Report Experiences with Police Bag Searches on Mass Transit (07/22/2005)
NEW YORK -- The New York Civil Liberties Union today launched an online form for commuters to report their encounters with police conducting searches on public transportation. The NYCLU will analyze the complaints and possibly challenge the constitutionality of the methods and practices used by the police in conducting these searches.

Hundreds of New Yorkers Rally to Reform the Patriot Act (07/12/2005)
NEW YORK -- Hundreds of activists led by the New York Civil Liberties Union and the New York Bill of Rights Defense Campaign took to the streets today, calling on Congress to reform the Patriot Act.

ACLU, Family Members Sue for Release of American Citizen Detained in Iraq (07/06/2005)
LOS ANGELES -- The American Civil Liberties Union today filed a lawsuit against top U.S. government officials on behalf of the family of an American citizen detained indefinitely in Iraq for nearly two months without charge or access to his family or a lawyer, demanding that the man be released and returned to his home in Los Angeles.

New York Civil Liberties Union Urges Members of Congress to Support the SAFE Act (06/30/2005)
NEW YORK -- The New York Civil Liberties Union today urged members of New York's Congressional delegation to restore basic rights and freedoms by supporting legislation that would reform provisions of the USA Patriot Act that undermine civil rights and civil liberties. The NYCLU also called on lawmakers to oppose legislation that would reinstate sections of the Patriot Act that are scheduled to sunset.

Elks Lodge Settles ACLU Lawsuit, Agrees to Admit Women as Members (06/01/2005)
ROME, NY -- The New York Civil Liberties Union and the Women's Rights Project of the American Civil Liberties Union today hailed the settlement of a lawsuit brought by a local woman who was denied admission to an Elks Lodge here solely because of her gender. Bonnie Orendorff has agreed to drop her lawsuit on the condition that the Benevolent and Protective Order Elks Lodge No.96 admit women members on the exact basis that they admit men.

NYCLU Hails Introduction of Civil Rights Legislation to End Unlawful NYPD Detention Practice (05/24/2005)
NEW YORK -- The New York Civil Liberties Union today called on the City Council to pass landmark civil rights legislation that will be introduced tomorrow. Known as the ""Charge or Release"" bill and introduced by Council Member Bill Perkins, it would mandate that individuals arrested in New York City are arraigned within 24 hours of arrest.

ACLU Urges New York Appeals Court to End Unfairness Against Gay Couples in Marriage (05/19/2005)
NEW YORK -- The American Civil Liberties Union filed a brief today in a New York appeals court asking the court to strike down a New York law that bars lesbian and gay couples and their families from the protections of marriage. Religious leaders, civil rights advocates and women's groups also announced their support for marriage for same-sex couples through friend-of-the-court briefs filed this week.

New York Civil Liberties Union Threatens Lawsuit Over City's "Misguided" Ban on Central Park Protests (05/18/2005)
NEW YORK -- The New York Civil Liberties Union today testified that the proposed Parks & Recreation regulation to restrict protest activity on the Great Lawn in Central Park, ostensibly to protect the grass, is misguided and unconstitutional and threatened to sue if the proposal is adopted. The NYCLU said in testimony before the Parks & Recreation Committee of the City Council that the proposed protest ban which restricts the number of non-city approved events to just two per year, neither of which can exceed 50,000 people, amounts to a violation of the rights of protesters.

School Safety Personnel Undermine Educators at Bronx High Schools, NYCLU Charges (04/22/2005)
NEW YORK -- In response to a series of recent altercations between police personnel and officials at a Bronx high school, the New York Civil Liberties Union today charged that school safety agents are undermining the education process by repeatedly interfering with the authority of school officials, and called on the Department of Education to address the growing problem.

Homeland Security Violates Civil Rights of Muslim American Citizens (04/20/2005)
NEW YORK -- The New York Civil Liberties Union, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Council on American-Islamic Relations in simultaneous news conferences in Buffalo and Brooklyn today announced a lawsuit charging that the Department of Homeland Security singled out and violated the rights of American citizens who were returning from a religious conference in Toronto. The lawsuit was filed to challenge the DHS's policy of detaining, interrogating, fingerprinting and photographing American citizens who are Muslim, solely because they attended an Islamic conference.

NYCLU Hails Decision by Bronx DA to Dismiss Criminal Charges Against School Officials (04/12/2005)
NEW YORK--The New York Civil Liberties Union today praised the decision of the Bronx District Attorney to dismiss criminal charges against a high school principal and a school safety officer who were arrested for interference when they tried to stop the arrest of a 16-year-old student.

NYCLU and ACLU Urge NY City Council to Adopt Innovative Law to Eliminate Discriminatory City Policies (04/08/2005)
NEW YORK -- The New York Civil Liberties Union and the American Civil Liberties Union testified today at the New York City Council's first hearing on ground-breaking local human rights legislation: the Human Rights Government Audit Law (HUMAN RIGHTS-GOAL).

ACLU Files Discrimination Lawsuit on Behalf of Couple Kicked Out of Health Care Center Because They Are Lesbian (02/24/2005)
SYRACUSE, NY - The American Civil Liberties Union and the New York Civil Liberties Union filed a discrimination lawsuit today on behalf of a Utica couple kicked out of the wellness program at the Charles T. Sitrin Health Care Center, Inc., because they are lesbian. One of the plaintiffs suffers from severe osteoarthritis and other medical conditions and needs to use the facility's pool to avoid losing her leg.

NYCLU Disappointed With Outcome of Education Funding Lawsuit (02/15/2005)
NEW YORK -- The New York Civil Liberties Union is greatly disappointed in today's Court of Appeals decision on our lawsuit seeking more resources for failing schools throughout the state and outside New York City.

NYCLU Sues City Over Arrest of RNC Protester (02/15/2005)
NEW YORK-- The New York Civil Liberties Union today filed a lawsuit in federal court charging that the Police Department violated the civil rights of a woman who was arrested for a lawful, solo protest during the Republican National Convention last summer while dressed in a make-shift costume as a Hummer vehicle.

ACLU Applauds Decision by New York Trial Judge Striking Down Laws Banning Same-Sex Couples from Marrying (02/04/2005)
NEW YORK - The American Civil Liberties Union applauded a decision by a New York trial court issued today striking down as unconstitutional New York marriage laws that ban same-sex couples from marrying.

NYCLU Files Same-Sex Benefits Lawsuit on Behalf of Rochester Woman (01/13/2005)
ROCHESTER, NY -- The New York Civil Liberties Union today filed a lawsuit in the state Supreme Court on behalf of a Rochester woman seeking health care benefits for her female partner whom she married in Canada.

Revisions to New York Rockefeller Drug Laws Embrace the Status Quo (12/08/2004)
NEW YORK--The New York Civil Liberties Union today charged that legislation passed in Albany, while reducing the most severe mandatory sentences for drug offenses, leaves in place a sentencing scheme that is inherently unfair and unjust. Even with the proposed revisions, New York still has the harshest drug-sentencing laws in the country.

New York Trial Court Decision Denying Marriage for Same-Sex Couples Advances ACLU Lawsuit to Appeals Court (12/07/2004)
NEW YORK - A New York trial court judge issued a decision today finding that the New York constitution allows the state to continue to exclude same-sex couples from marriage. The American Civil Liberties Union will appeal the decision.

ACLU Brings Hit 'Stand Up For Freedom' Comedy Tour to Columbia University (11/08/2004)
NEW YORK-Celebrity comedians will perform at Columbia University tonight as part of the American Civil Liberties Union's Stand Up for Freedom comedy tour, which is designed to motivate students to promote and protect their civil rights and civil liberties.

New York Civic Groups Offer Voter Assistance on Election Day (10/29/2004)
NEW YORK--The New York Civil Liberties Union, along with a coalition of civic groups, today announced initiatives to inform New Yorkers of their voting rights, including launching a helpline for voters to be staffed for 12 hours on Election Day.

NYC Agrees to Destroy Fingerprints Taken from Protesters During Republican National Convention (10/20/2004)
NEW YORK-Under pressure from the New York Civil Liberties Union, the city today agreed to destroy all fingerprints taken from protesters arrested for minor offenses during last summer's Republican National Convention. The agreement comes two weeks after the NYCLU filed two lawsuits challenging the routine fingerprinting of protesters as well as other practices by the Police Department, and is part of an ongoing negotiation between the NYCLU and the city to change police practices currently used against protesters.

Police Trampled Civil Rights During Republican National Convention, NYCLU Charges (10/07/2004)
NEW YORK--The New York Civil Liberties Union today filed two federal lawsuits against city officials here, charging that the Police Department's indiscriminate mass arrests during the recent Republican National Convention violated the civil rights of lawful and peaceful protesters as well as bystanders and observers.

Manhattan District Attorney Agrees to Dismiss All Cases of People Arrested at Republican National Convention Demonstration (10/06/2004)
NEW YORK--In response to a request from the New York Civil Liberties Union, the office of District Attorney Robert Morgenthau today announced it would dismiss the criminal prosecutions of 227 people arrested on August 31 at a Republican National Convention demonstration near the World Trade Center.

NYCLU Criticizes NYPD for Failing to Investigate Officer Wearing Helmet Promoting Violence Against Women (10/01/2004)
NEW YORK--The New York Civil Liberties Union today harshly criticized the New York Police Department for refusing to investigate a police officer who was photographed wearing a motorcycle helmet bearing an apparent endorsement of violence against women.

Federal Court Orders Government to Release or Identify All Documents Related to Abuse of Detainees in U.S. Custody by October 15 (09/15/2004)
NEW YORK - Declaring that ""no one is above the law,"" a federal court judge today ordered the government to turn over or identify within 30 days all documents relating to the treatment of prisoners held by the United States at military bases and other detention facilities overseas, including Guantánamo Bay and Abu Ghraib.

NYCLU Welcomes City Council Hearing on Police Practices During the Republican National Convention (09/14/2004)
NEW YORK -- The New York Civil Liberties Union today welcomed the New York City Council's decision to hold an all-day hearing dedicated to investigating police practices and poor treatment of protesters during the Republican National Convention. The NYCLU said that while the NYPD generally respected the rights of protesters, there were some serious questions raised over police tactics that stifled dissent and political debate.

ACLU Brings Premiere of Groundbreaking Robert Greenwald Documentary to Local Communities (09/07/2004)
NEW YORK-The American Civil Liberties Union and its affiliates will host screenings of acclaimed filmmaker Robert Greenwald's latest groundbreaking documentary ""Unconstitutional"" in more than 25 states, including a world premiere on September 13 at the University of Texas at Austin and a September 14 screening at Lincoln Center's Walter Reade Theater in New York.

NYCLU Concerned About Change in Police Tactics During Peaceful Protests (08/31/2004)
NEW YORK -- As the Republican National Convention continues its second day and protests surrounding the RNC continue for the fifth day, the New York Civil Liberties Union today expressed concern about the change in tone and tactics of the New York Police Department.

ACLU Criticizes Secret Service Investigation of News Website That Posted RNC Delegates' Names (08/30/2004)
NEW YORK - In a letter sent today in response to a grand jury subpoena issued by the Secret Service, the American Civil Liberties Union and the New York Civil Liberties Union said they are representing a web hosting service and administrators of an independent media website regarding the anonymous posting of publicly available information about delegates to the Republican National Convention.

NYCLU Co-Sponsors Demonstration to Strike Down Rockefeller Drug Laws (08/30/2004)
NEW YORK -- The New York Civil Liberties Union today joined a coalition of 50 organizations speaking out against laws and conditions that adversely impact poor people. The Still We Rise coalition will gather today near Union Square Park to march up Eighth Avenue to Madison Square Garden on the opening day of the Republican National Convention. The participants will rally around issues such as HIV awareness, housing and immigration policy, as well as the effort to bring real reform to the onerous Rockefeller Drug Laws in New York State.

Statement of Brian Szymanski Regarding Secret Service Investigation of Indymedia (08/30/2004)
I have been involved in Indymedia since early 2001. Indymedia is based on the premise of open publishing -- empowering people to publish anything that they deem newsworthy with no filter except the reader's own -- to "be the media." It also gives the publisher the power to be anonymous, pseudonymous, or registered, so they can choose how much readers know about them. This is an extremely powerful device because it allows whistleblowers and others who need an assurance of anonymity to publish a story without fear of retribution while still letting journalists who wish to have their identities known build a reputation and readership.

Subpoenaed Missouri Activists Speak Out on FBI Surveillance (08/30/2004)
NEW YORK-On the opening day of the Republican National Convention, three young political activists who were subpoenaed as part of an investigation by the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force in Kirksville, Missouri revealed their identities today, saying that they can no longer remain silent as the FBI steps up its efforts to spy on and interrogate other political protesters.

NYCLU Questions Pre-Emptive Arrests by NYPD During Republican National Convention (08/29/2004)
NEW YORK -- A weekend of upbeat and peaceful protests was marred by questionable tactics by the NYPD, the New York Civil Liberties Union said today. The NYCLU is investigating several incidents where police arrested individuals who were otherwise obeying the law.

NYCLU Criticizes Ban on Condom Demonstrations in Sex Education Classes in New York (08/27/2004)
NEW YORK -- The New York Civil Liberties Union today praised the New York City Department of Education for revising the sex education curriculum but criticized its refusal to include recommended condom demonstrations in a new curriculum.

Federal Abortion Ban Struck Down Today in New York (08/26/2004)
NEW YORK - A federal district court today struck down the federal abortion ban known as the ""Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003,"" because it fails to provide any exception to protect women's health. The American Civil Liberties Union and the National Abortion Federation (NAF) hailed the decision as a great victory for women and reproductive health care providers.

NYCLU and CCR Urge New York Judge to Allow Peaceful Protest in Central Park During the Republican National Convention (08/24/2004)
NEW YORK--Attorneys for the New York Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Constitutional Rights today argued before the New York State Supreme Court that the city should open Central Park for a peaceful protest by United for Peace and Justice on August 29, the eve of the Republican National Convention. The lawyers told Judge Jacqueline Silberman that New York City is applying rules about political protest that appear nowhere in Parks Department regulations and are not available to the general public.

Court Orders Feds to End Stonewalling and Immediately Process ACLU Request for Torture Records (08/18/2004)
NEW YORK -- The American Civil Liberties Union and New York Civil Liberties Union today won a significant victory in their 10-month struggle to obtain records on the abuse of prisoners held by the United States at detention facilities overseas. In a stinging rebuke, a federal judge ordered the administration to begin honoring an ACLU request under the Freedom of Information Act, saying that the government had dragged its feet for far too long.

NYCLU and CCR Sue City to Secure Central Park Permit for Protest Rally During Republican Convention (08/18/2004)
NEW YORK--The New York Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Constitutional Rights today announced the filing of a lawsuit on behalf of United for Peace and Justice to secure a permit for a protest rally in Central Park on August 29th. The lawsuit follows months of protracted negotiations and an unacceptable solution for a rally to accommodate an estimated 250,000 protesters on the eve of the Republican National Convention.

Social Workers Come Out in Support of Marriage for Same-Sex Couples (08/16/2004)
NEW YORK - The National Association of Social Workers filed a friend-of-the-court brief today in support of the American Civil Liberties Union's lawsuit seeking marriage for same-sex couples in New York.

New York Congressional Leaders Call on Mayor Bloomberg to Protect First Amendment Rights at Republican National Convention (08/04/2004)
NEW YORK- U.S. Representatives Charles Rangel, Jerrold Nadler and Major Owens joined the New York Civil Liberties Union today in asking Mayor Michael Bloomberg to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on the regulation of protest activities at the forthcoming Republican National Convention. While acknowledging that positive actions have been taken by the city to safeguard First Amendment rights at the convention, the lawmakers highlighted several important outstanding issues that have yet to be acted on by Mayor Bloomberg.

NYCLU Unveils "Protecting Protest" Storefront for the Republican National Convention (07/26/2004)
NEW YORK --The New York Civil Liberties Union announced today that it will formally open its ""Protecting Protest"" Storefront this week just two blocks from Madison Square Garden, the location of the upcoming Republican National Convention. The Storefront, at 520 Eighth Avenue (between 36th and 37th Streets) will serve as the NYCLU base of operations for monitoring protest activity during the convention.

Court Ruling Halts Restrictive NYPD Practices During Protests; Decision Comes in Anticipation of Republican National Convention (07/19/2004)
NEW YORK--In an historic victory for the right to protest, a federal judge today ruled in favor of the New York Civil Liberties Union and ordered the New York Police Department to stop using unconstitutional tactics at large demonstrations, including various controversial practices expected to be used in August at the Republican National Convention.

ACLU Asks Judge to Rule for Marriage Equality in New York State (07/01/2004)
NEW YORK - Saying that ""tradition"" is not a valid reason to prevent same-sex couples from marrying, the American Civil Liberties Union and the New York Civil Liberties Union today formally asked a New York judge to strike down the state's ban on marriage for same-sex couples.

NYCLU Questions Mayor's Plan to Close Streets During the Republican National Convention (06/25/2004)
NEW YORK -- The New York Civil Liberties Union today expressed concern about the city's sweeping plan to shut down a wide range of streets during the Republican National Convention in August.

NYCLU Hails New York Appeals Decision Invalidating State Death Penalty (06/24/2004)
NEW YORK -- The New York Civil Liberties Union today hailed a New York Court of Appeals decision that effectively invalidates the state's death penalty. In a 4-3 decision, the court ruled that the "deadlock" instruction given to juries improperly coerces them to vote for the death penalty.

NYCLU Raises Questions Over Federal Investigation of a Buffalo Artist (06/21/2004)
BUFFALO -- In a letter sent last week to U.S. Attorney Michael Battle, the New York Civil Liberties Union questioned the propriety of a grand jury investigation into the work of Buffalo artist Steven Kurtz.

New York Congressional Members, City Leaders and Advocates Join NYCLU in Calling for Protection of First Amendment Rights at the Republican National Convention (06/06/2004)
NEW YORK-Members of Congress, city leaders and advocates for free speech today announced a series of actions to be taken this summer to ensure that First Amendment rights are protected at the forthcoming Republican National Convention. The ""Protecting Protest Campaign"" will include a Memorandum of Understanding between New York City's Congressional leaders and Mayor Michael Bloomberg. It will also include a City Council resolution sponsored by Speaker Gifford Miller along with hearings in the City Council on NYPD tactics at the convention.

Court Hears Arguments in NYCLU Challenge to Police Tactics at 2003 Anti-War Protests (06/02/2004)
NEW YORK - Trial began today in federal court in three right-to-protest cases brought by the New York Civil Liberties Union challenging police practices at the February 15, 2003 anti-war demonstration here.

ACLU Urges Appeals Court to Uphold Gender Identity Protections in New York (05/19/2004)
NEW YORK - In the first transgender discrimination case to reach a New York state appeals court, the American Civil Liberties Union today urged the court not to deny transgender New Yorkers protections against discrimination.

NYCLU Leads Thousands to Sunday's March For Women's Lives (04/23/2004)
NEW YORK - This Sunday, the New York Civil Liberties Union will lead thousands of its members and supporters throughout the state to the March for Women's Lives in Washington, D.C. The march takes place as abortion opponents have pushed through Congress measures that interfere with New York's pro-choice policies and place women's health and lives at risk.

ACLU Asks Appeals Court to Reject Attempt to End Gender Identity Protections in New York State (04/21/2004)
NEW YORK - In the first gender discrimination case to reach a New York state appellate court, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a brief today urging the court not to deny transgender New Yorkers their right to live free of discrimination.

NYCLU Calls On Mayor Bloomberg to Protect Peaceful Protest, Avoid Mass Arrests At Republican National Convention (03/12/2004)
NEW YORK -- In response to reports that the New York Police Department is gearing up to arrest 1,000 people a day during the upcoming Republican National Convention, the New York Civil Liberties Union today said it has sent a letter to Mayor Michael Bloomberg demanding that he protect the right of peaceful protest.

ACLU Congratulates Same-Sex Couples Married by Mayor Today in Upstate New York (02/27/2004)
NEW PALTZ, NY - Mayor Jason West of New Paltz, New York made his village the first town on the East Coast to perform marriages for same-sex couples this morning. The American Civil Liberties Union, which is advising some of the first couples married, cheered his decision to perform the marriages.

NYCLU Sues Salvation Army for Religious Discrimination Against Employees in Government-Funded Social Services for Children (02/24/2004)
NEW YORK -- The New York Civil Liberties Union today filed a lawsuit in federal court charging The Salvation Army with religious discrimination against employees in its government-funded social services in New York City and on Long Island.

New York to Recognize Same-Sex Couples in Unemployment Insurance (02/11/2004)
NEW YORK- In response to a case brought by the American Civil Liberties Union, the New York State Department of Labor has agreed to policy changes that will recognize same-sex relationships in determining eligibility for unemployment insurance.

NYCLU Hails Victory For Students' Privacy Rights Following Lawsuit Over Forced Gynecological Exams (01/31/2004)
NEW YORK -- The New York Civil Liberties Union today announced that it has reached a settlement in its federal lawsuit against the U. S. Department of Education for illegally suspending a group of female students and requiring them to submit gynecological records as a condition for reinstatement.

NYCLU Calls on State Officials to Audit Salvation Army Employment Practices (01/14/2004)
NEW YORK -- In letters sent today to New York State Comptroller Alan G. Hevesi and New York City Comptroller William G. Thompson Jr., the New York Civil Liberties Union raised concerns about possible religious discrimination against employees in state- and city-funded social services programs run by the Salvation Army.

ACLU Appears Before Kansas Appeals Court on Behalf of Youth Serving 15 Additional Years in Prison Because He is Gay (12/02/2003)
TOPEKA, KS - Appearing before the Kansas Court of Appeals today, the American Civil Liberties Union urged the court to follow the U.S. Supreme Court's recent gay rights case, Lawrence v. Texas, and reduce the sentence of a young man serving an additional 15 years in prison solely because he is gay. The case was sent back to the Kansas court for reconsideration by the Supreme Court immediately following its decision in Lawrence this past June.

New Yorkers Rally for Resolution 909, Call on NYC Council to Vote Before Session Ends (12/02/2003)
NEW YORK -- Congressional Representatives, Council Members and civil rights, immigrant, and union groups joined hundreds of New Yorkers today for a rally in support of a bill calling on government officials to uphold civil liberties when prosecuting the war on terrorism.

ACLU Applauds Court Decision Promoting Women's Health and Ending Gender Discrimination in Insurance Coverage (12/01/2003)
ALBANY - The American Civil Liberties Union and the New York Civil Liberties Union today hailed a decision by a New York State Supreme Court judge upholding a New York law requiring insurance companies to include contraceptive coverage in their drug benefit packages.

NYCLU Hails Appeals Court Decision Vacating Death Sentence in Second Case Under New Law (11/25/2003)
NEW YORK -- The New York Civil Liberties Union today hailed a decision from the New York Court of Appeals vacating the death sentence of the second person sentenced to death under New York's new death penalty law. The NYCLU had filed a friend-of-the-court brief calling for reversal of the death sentence and has been involved in several earlier successful challenges to the state's death penalty law, which was enacted in 1995.

NYCLU Files Lawsuit Against Lobbying Commission Over Free-Speech Billboard (11/03/2003)
NEW YORK--The New York Civil Liberties Union today filed a federal lawsuit in Manhattan against David Grandeau, the Executive Director of the New York Temporary State Commission on Lobbying. The Commission has taken the position that NYCLU sponsorship of a billboard outside a shopping mall is lobbying, even though the billboard makes no mention of any legislation.

NYCLU Challenges NYPD Policy Barring Leafleting and Petitioning On Sidewalks Near Public Schools (10/22/2003)
NEW YORK - Acting on behalf of a youth advocacy group, the New York Civil Liberties Union today filed a lawsuit in federal court in Manhattan challenging a police department policy that prohibits groups and individuals from engaging in peaceful First Amendment activity -- including leafleting, petitioning, and picketing -- on public sidewalks in front of city schools.

ACLU's First-Ever College Freedom Tour Visits Hunter College, 9/18 and New School University, 9/26 (09/18/2003)
NEW YORK - Provocative performances, cutting-edge music and outspoken exchanges about the civil liberties issues of the day are all part of the American Civil Liberties Union's first College Freedom Tour, at Hunter College, September 18 and at New School University, September 26. The seven-city, eight-campus tour is part of the ACLU's new youth communication initiative, established earlier this year to mobilize young people to promote and protect civil liberties and civil rights.

ACLU and NYCLU Ask Court to Protect Women's Right to Contraceptive Coverage (08/22/2003)
ALBANY -- A law requiring insurance companies to cover contraceptives promotes women's health and equality without violating religious freedom, the American Civil Liberties Union and the New York Civil Liberties Union argued in a friend-of-the-court brief filed today in state supreme court.

NYCLU Sues New York School Officials for Forcing Teen-Age Girls to Undergo Intrusive Medical Exams (07/08/2003)
NEW YORK-- The New York Civil Liberties Union today filed a federal lawsuit against school officials for illegally suspending a group of girls for going to a ""hooky party"" and then refusing to let them return to school until they underwent intrusive and highly private medical examinations and turned over the test results.

ACLU Challenges Queens Landlord's Claim That Transgender People Are Not Entitled to Use Bathrooms or Common Areas of Building (06/26/2003)
NEW YORK -- In arguments before a state supreme court judge tomorrow, the American Civil Liberties Union is urging the court to reject a landlord's claim that he was justified in refusing to let transgender clients with the Hispanic AIDS Forum (HAF) use any of the building's restrooms or common areas of the building.

Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board to Reconsider Denial of Benefits to Lesbian Who Relocated With Partner (06/04/2003)
ALBANY- Following a request from New York Governor George Pataki, the Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board has agreed to reconsider its decision denying unemployment benefits to Jeanne Newland, a lesbian who left her job in Rochester to relocate with her life partner, a move applauded by the American Civil Liberties Union.

National Anti-Patriot Act Movement Centers on Ground Zero; NYC Council Introduces Pro-Civil Liberties Resolution (05/28/2003)
NEW YORK - Voicing concern that constitutional freedoms are threatened by federal and local anti-terrorism measures, City Council Member William Perkins and six of his colleagues today introduced a bold, detailed resolution affirming the fundamental rights and liberties of New Yorkers.

NYCLU Says NYPD's Handling of Protestors Needs Improvement in Time for Republican Convention (04/28/2003)
NEW YORK--Saying that law enforcement crowd control tactics should be improved in time for next year's Republican Convention here, the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) today called on city officials to implement quick reforms. The NYCLU's suggested changes were highlighted in a 40-page report, released today on the steps of City Hall.

ACLU Urges Baseball Hall of Fame to Let the Show - and Democracy - Go On (04/18/2003)
NEW YORK - In a letter sent today to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, the American Civil Liberties Union urged president Dale Petroskey to reconsider his decision to cancel a 15th anniversary celebration of the movie ""Bull Durham"" because stars Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon have spoken out against the war in Iraq.

In Response to NYCLU Demand, Police Stop Interrogating Protesters About Political Activity (04/10/2003)
NEW YORK -- In response to a demand made by the New York Civil Liberties Union earlier this week, police officials have agreed to halt a recently implemented secret program of interrogating protesters about their political affiliations and prior demonstration activities, the NYCLU announced today.

NYCLU Urges New York Stock Exchange to Lift Ban on Al-Jazeera (04/02/2003)
NEW YORK-- In a letter sent today to Dick Grasso, Chairman & CEO of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), the New York Civil Liberties Union urged the exchange to rescind its decision to revoke the press credentials of two reporters representing the Arab-language broadcast network Al-Jazeera.

NYCLU Joins with Albany Lawmakers in Support of Legislation That Supports Free Speech at Shopping Malls (03/31/2003)
ALBANY-The New York Civil Liberties Union today joined with members of the Assembly of the state legislature to announce the introduction of legislation that would require shopping malls to permit free speech and "expressive activity," which includes the right of an individual to wear clothing, buttons and arm bands that convey a political or ideological point of view.

NYCLU Announces Billboard Ad Supporting Free Speech at Albany Shopping Mall (03/27/2003)
NEW YORK-In response to the failure of an upstate mall to respect the free speech rights of its patrons, the New York Civil Liberties Union today announced that it has placed an advertisement on a billboard near the mall stating, "Welcome to the mall. You have the right to remain silent. Value free speech."

NYCLU Urges Mall Where Man was Arrested for Peace T-Shirt to Adopt Free Speech Policy (03/11/2003)
NEW YORK -- A letter sent today by the New York Civil Liberties Union condemned the actions of a management company whose employees violated the First Amendment rights of a Syracuse man when they detained him and later had him arrested for wearing a T-shirt with the slogan, "Give Peace A Chance."

NYCLU Demands Retraction of White House Threat to Censor Parody of Vice President's Wife (03/04/2003)
NEW YORK--The New York Civil Liberties Union today sent a letter to the Office of Vice President Richard Cheney vowing to protect the free speech rights of a political humorist whose website satirizes Mr. Cheney's wife, Lynne.

ACLU Challenges NY Mayor's Decision to Block Anti-War March on United Nations (02/05/2003)
NEW YORK -- The New York Civil Liberties Union today filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of a coalition of anti-war groups that have been barred from conducting a public march in conjunction with a large anti-war demonstration planned for February 15 at the United Nations.

ACLU and Coalition of Immigrants' Rights Groups "Register Discontent" with Government's Immigrant Registration Program (01/10/2003)
NEW YORK-The American Civil Liberties Union today joins with other immigrants' rights organizations across the nation to "register our discontent" with the government's latest attack on immigrant groups.

NYCLU Vows to Defend Contraceptive Coverage Law Against Religious Coalition's Challenge (12/30/2002)
NEW YORK - The New York Civil Liberties Union today said that it would file a friend-of-the-court brief opposing a challenge by religious groups to a state law that requires insurance plans to cover contraception.

Government Cannot Use Material Witness Statute to Detain People, ACLU Tells Appeals Court (11/22/2002)
NEW YORK - The American Civil Liberties Union today urged a federal appeals court to uphold a ruling that the government unlawfully used the material witness statute to detain a Jordanian-born college student for 20 days.

Appeals Court Upholds Order Barring Anti-Choice Trespassers From Private Property Surrounding Nassau County Reproductive Health Care Clinic (11/04/2002)
NEW YORK- A state appeals court today upheld an order permanently barring anti-choice protestors from trespassing on private property that housed a Long Island abortion clinic in a case brought by the New York Civil Liberties Union.

NYCLU Urges City Agency to Reject First-Ever Fingerprint Plan for Subsidized Housing Tenants (11/04/2002)
NEW YORK--In a letter sent today to the city's Department of Housing Preservation and Development, the New York Civil Liberties Union urged the agency to reject a proposal to impose a fingerprint identification system for tenants at a subsidized housing complex.

NYCLU Urges School Officials to Protect Students From Unwanted Military Recruitment Solicitations (10/14/2002)
NEW YORK -The New York Civil Liberties Union today criticized the city's top education official for failing to protect public high school students and their families from unwanted military recruitment solicitations and for using scarce education dollars to subsidize the program under the "No Child Left Behind Act" of 2002.

Following New Evidence of Coerced Confessions, NYCLU Calls on Police to Videotape Interrogations (09/17/2002)
NEW YORK -- In light of recent evidence that police detectives coerced two teenage boys into submitting false confessions in the 1989 attack of a Central Park jogger, the New York Civil Liberties Union today called upon the police department to start videotaping interrogations of serious crime suspects in their custody.

NYCLU and Coalition of Groups Demand End to Censorship on New York's English Exams (06/03/2002)
NEW YORK--At a news conference today, a diverse ad-hoc coalition including the New York Civil Liberties Union denounced the State Board of Regents and State Education Commissioner Richard Mills for engaging in censorship on the statewide English Language Arts exam.