Home : Free Speech : Right to Protest

ACLU Backs Free Speech Rights for PA Citizens Fighting Chain Store in Their Neighborhood (09/12/2000)
Pittsburgh, PA -- The American Civil Liberties Union is going to bat for the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation and other organizations and individuals facing a $7 million lawsuit for for opposing a new CVS Pharmacy in Homestead, PA.

ACLU Denounces Police Infiltration of Protest Groups at GOP Convention in Philadelphia (09/07/2000)
PHILADELPHIA, PA -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania today denounced the use of state police to infiltrate political activist groups that planned protests at last month's Republican National Convention.

ACLU Statement on Defending Free Speech of Unpopular Organizations (08/31/2000)
NEW YORK--In the United States Supreme Court over the past few years, the American Civil Liberties Union has taken the side of a fundamentalist Christian church, a Santerian church, and the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. In celebrated cases, the ACLU has stood up for everyone from Oliver North to the National Socialist Party. In spite of all that, the ACLU has never advocated Christianity, ritual animal sacrifice, trading arms for hostages or genocide. In representing NAMBLA today, our Massachusetts affiliate does not advocate sexual relationships between adults and children.

ACLU Defends Free Speech Rights of Police Officer (08/30/2000)
HONOLULU - The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai'i has sent a letter to county attorneys of the Island of Hawai'i criticizing the County's policy of prohibiting a police officer from filing a complaint before its Police Commission.

ACLU Wins Key Battle in Case to Protect Free Speech In Citizen Complaints About Police (08/11/2000)
LOS ANGELES -- The ACLU of Southern California won a key victory this week in their challenge to the Constitutionality of a state law that makes it a misdemeanor to knowingly file a false allegation of misconduct against a peace officer.

Three Seattle Residents Accept Judgments in ACLU Lawsuit over WTO "No Protest Zone" (08/11/2000)
SEATTLE, WA -- Three local residents have accepted offers of judgment in the American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit challenging the Seattle's establishment of a "no protest zone" during the meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO) on December 1-3, 1999.

ACLU Seeks Court Order to Stop LAPD from Harassing and Intimidating Convention Protesters (08/10/2000)
LOS ANGELES -- The ACLU of Southern California filed a federal lawsuit today seeking a restraining order to stop the Los Angeles Police Department's harassment and intimidation of protesters at and near the protesters' organizing headquarters.

ACLU Criticizes Police Officials for Overreacting to Disruptions at Convention (08/07/2000)
PHILADELPHIA, PA -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania is extremely critical of how Police Commissioner John Timoney and District Attorney Lynne Abraham are overreacting to the disruptions and vandalism that occurred in Philadelphia on August 1, 2000.

ACLU Warns Los Angeles Police Department: Stop Harassing Protesters (08/07/2000)
LOS ANGELES -- In a letter sent today to the Los Angeles Police Department, the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California is demanding that officials immediately stop harassing Democratic National Convention protesters at their organizing headquarters here.

ACLU Responds to Disruptions at GOP Convention in Philadelpia (08/02/2000)
PHILADELPHIA -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania is disappointed by the turn of events here yesterday. The disruptions, vandalism and arrests were particularly troubling since the previous three days had been marked by large and peaceful protests.

Government Plotted to Disrupt Peaceful Protests, Rights Groups Charge (07/27/2000)
WASHINGTON -- The United States and District of Columbia governments deliberately plotted to disrupt and stifle peaceful protests against the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, according to a lawsuit filed by civil rights and protest groups here today.

Federal Judge Requires Los Angeles to Follow First Amendment During the Democratic National Convention (07/20/2000)
LOS ANGELES -- A federal judge issued a written order today requiring city officials to accommodate free speech during the Democratic National Convention and prohibiting the city's current park use and parade permit granting schemes.

ACLU Claims Free Speech Victory in Texas; Displaying Political Posters is Now Legal (07/19/2000)
ROWLETT, TX -- The City Council here last night voted unanimously for a new sign ordinance that eliminates unconstitutional restrictions against political speech by residents in response to a federal lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas last summer.

Crossing the Line: Protest, Politics and Power at the National Republican Convention (07/10/2000)
PHILADELPHIA, PA -- At a town hall meeting next Monday, July 17th, the American Civil Liberties Union and WHYY radio are teaming up for a special presentation on balancing the rights of protesters at the National Republican Convention in Philadelphia with concerns for an orderly convention.

ACLU Report Says Response To Seattle WTO Protests was 'Flawed, Out of Control' (07/05/2000)
SEATTLE -- Drawing on more than 500 eyewitness accounts, the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington State today released a comprehensive examination of civil liberties violations that occurred here last fall during the World Trade Organization conference.

Massachusetts Court Ruling Protects Citizen Critics From Police Libel Lawsuits (06/20/2000)
BOSTON -- In a resounding victory for First Amendment advocates, the Supreme Judicial Court today issued a ruling that significantly broadens the legal protections for citizens who criticize police.

Intel's Attempt to Muzzle Ex-Worker's E-Mails Violates First Amendment, ACLU Says (05/12/2000)
SAN FRANCISCO -- In a case with important ramifications for workers' rights and for the right of ordinary people to communicate by e-mail, the American Civil Liberties Union today filed a friend-of-the-court brief endorsing the right of Ken Hamidi, a former Intel employee, to air his grievances with the company by sending e-mails to his former co-workers using their work e-mail addresses. 

ACLU Warns Attorney General to Avoid Civil Liberties Disaster in Military Standoff on Island in Puerto Rico (05/01/2000)
SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO -- As United States police and military gear up to remove protestors tomorrow from federal lands on the island of Vieques in Puerto Rico, the American Civil Liberties Union warned Attorney General Janet Reno to avoid a civil liberties disaster.

ACLU Cautions Miami Police in Handling of Elian Gonzalez Protests (04/27/2000)
MIAMI -- Thousands of residents here have been rallying and demonstrating to express their views in connection with the federal government's seizure of Elian Gonzalez this past weekend. Many of those arrested, and many others participating in the demonstrations, have called the ACLU for legal assistance and to complain about overly aggressive police tactics.

In Letter to D.C. Police, ACLU Warns of Possible Constitutional Violations at IMF Protests (04/16/2000)
WASHINGTON--The American Civil Liberties Union of the National Capital Area today released a letter advising police of possible civil liberties violations in connection with ongoing protests at meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund here.