Home : Free Speech : Right to Protest

ACLU Cautions DC Police As World Bank Protests Near (04/10/2000)
WASHINGTON -- Thousands of Americans are expected to rally and march here this weekend to express their views in connection with the meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

In Victory for "Underground" Speech, NYC Transit Officials Back Down on Subway Advertisement Ban (03/17/2000)
NEW YORK -- In response to a lawsuit filed last week by the New York Civil Liberties Union, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority today reversed itself and agreed to permit a controversial advertisement to run in the subways starting next month.

ACLU Supports Free Speech Rights of Groups Protesting Cleveland Indians Logo at Stadium (03/10/2000)
CLEVELAND, OH -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio today joined prominent local attorney Niki Schwartz in a legal battle over the First Amendment rights of groups seeking to demonstrate against the use of the Chief Wahoo image and the Cleveland Indians name.

In Second Lawsuit, ACLU Challenges Seattle's WTO 'No Protest' Zone on Behalf of Seven Local People (03/07/2000)
Victor Menotti, San Francisco -- He came to Seattle to attend the WTO conference as a credentialed representative of a Non-Governmental Organization, the International Forum on Globalization. On December 1 he was speaking at 5th & Pike to a journalist and interested citizens about his concerns over WTO policies on wood products. With no audible warning, police officers charged across 5th Ave. toward the small crowd. Ignoring everyone else, police pursued Menotti and arrested him; no formal criminal charges were ever filed.

ACLU Challenges California Criminal Law That Chills Citizen Complaints Against Police (02/29/2000)
LOS ANGELES, CA -- Acting on behalf of an African-American bicyclist who was physically assaulted by San Bernardino police officers, the American Civil Liberties Union affiliates in California today filed a federal lawsuit saying the man's free speech rights were violated when he attempted to file a citizen complaint about the incident.

Court Removes Gag from Federal Employees (02/11/2000)
WASHINGTON -- In an affirmation of free speech rights in the federal workplace, the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled this week that federal employees are free to speak on behalf of non-profit citizens' groups to agencies of the federal government.

ACLU of Arkansas Defends Man Ticketed for Distributing Literature in National Park (02/08/2000)
The man, Chris Burch, was handing out flyers on July 4, 1999, describing a recent decision by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to sell off part of the Ouachita Park land to a private developer; the flyer also contained information on how to contact legislators, and notified park patrons of an upcoming public meeting on the subject sponsored by the Sierra Club. 

ACLU Defends First Amendment Rights of MI Activist Arrested for Election Day Exit Poll (01/31/2000)
DETROIT, MI -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan has asked a judge to dismiss criminal charges filed against a man arrested for taking an exit poll of voters outside a polling place during the mayoral election last November.

Federal Judge Prohibits Ohio Efforts to Banish Citizens From Public Streets (01/20/2000)
CLEVELAND, OH -- A federal judge today struck down a local ordinance that banned individuals arrested for drug offenses from walking down public streets in an Ohio neighborhood.

ACLU Calls for Action in Response to Civil Liberties Violations During WTO Protests (12/06/1999)
SEATTLE -- At a news conference today, the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington called for a range of actions in response to civil liberties violations by police and city officials during the meeting of the World Trade Organization here last week.

ACLU Files Suit to Protect Citizen's Right to Protest In His Own Front Yard (12/03/1999)
DES MOINES -- In a federal lawsuit filed on behalf of a man forced to remove a sign of political protest from his property, the ACLU said that the city of Coralville violated the First Amendment protection of freedom of speech.

Hospital Trying to Censor Parent's Sidewalk Protest, ACLU Charges (11/15/1999)
PITTSBURGH -- In a classic right-to-protest case, the American Civil Liberties Union is defending the father of a critically injured child who has been sued by a local hospital to stop him from picketing to warn other parents of potential dangers.

ACLU Urges CA Court to Lift Order Barring Man from Protest on Behalf of Striking Workers (10/25/1999)
SAN FRANCISCO -- In a letter sent today to a Marin County judge, the ACLU of Northern California urged the court to void an order barring a man from engaging in peaceful protest.

ACLU of Texas Sues Gov. Bush, State Officials Over Arrest of Demonstrators (08/30/1999)
AUSTIN, TX -- Acting on behalf of protestors who were arrested while exercising their free speech rights, the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas today filed a lawsuit against Gov. George W. Bush and the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Upholding Free Speech Rights of the Unpopular, Idaho Court Allows Aryan Nations to March (07/09/1999)
COEUR D'ALENE, ID -- A Federal Court today ordered the City of Coeur d'Alene to grant the Aryan Nations a parade permit allowing them to march through the city's downtown area tomorrow.