Home : Free Speech : Right to Protest

Animal Rights Group to Resume Protest After ACLU of Pennsylvania Intervenes (06/01/2007)
PHILADELPHIA - Hugs for Puppies, a grassroots animal rights organization based in the Philadelphia area, will resume protests at Le Bec Fin and Brasserie Perrier after intervention by the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania and civil rights lawyer David Rudovsky.

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.

City of Fort Lauderdale Settles After Unconstitutional Ordinance Banning Free Speech is Struck Down (05/16/2007)
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida's Broward Chapter welcomed Federal Judge K. Michael Moore's ruling in favor of the ACLU and other coalition partners on Fort Lauderdale's unconstitutional ordinance that attempted to stifle free speech. The May 14, 2007 order, which grants the parties settlement, follows an order directing the City to no longer enforce the ordinance.

Santa Barbara Police Agree to Protect Protestors’ Rights (04/05/2007)
LOS ANGELES – Michael Tocher was a peaceful man with a megaphone and a message of protest when Santa Barbara police arrested him on Veterans Day in 2004. Today the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California announced a settlement of its lawsuit against the city over his wrongful arrest.

ACLU of New Jersey Successfully Defends Free Speech for Peace Activist (03/20/2007)
NEWARK - A New Jersey Superior Court judge today dismissed charges against Bob Flisser, who was arrested in Flemington for participating in a public vigil for fallen soldiers without obtaining a permit. The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, representing Flisser, argued that Flemington's "parade" permit ordinance violated numerous free speech protections and was applied discriminatorily. Flemington officials agreed to the dismissal.

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.

ACLU of New Mexico Defends Homeowners After Neighborhood Association Attempts to Censor “Impeach Bush” Sign (12/05/2006)
RIO RANCHO, NM - The American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico announced today that it would take legal action against a Rio Rancho homeowners’ association if it made good on a threat to fine a local couple for projecting a sign that said “Impeach Bush” on the side of their home

ACLU Plans Appeal on Behalf of New Jersey Peace Vigil Organizer (11/27/2006)
FLEMINGTON, N.J. - The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey announced that it will appeal the decision of Flemington Municipal Court Judge John Petronko Jr., who earlier today found peace advocate Robert Flisser guilty for organizing a “Fallen Solder Vigil” without a permit on August 17, 2005. The ACLU and Flisser contend that Flemington’s permit requirements violate freedom of speech and are applied discriminatorily.

ACLU Hosts Shut Up & Sing Screening in Houston (11/15/2006)
HOUSTON -- The American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Texas and The Weinstein Company will present a special preview screening of the new Dixie Chicks documentary Shut Up & Sing on Thursday, November 16 at 7:00 p.m. at the Landmark Theatre, 5 Greenway Plaza in Houston.

Federal Appeals Court to Hear Arguments Over Free Speech Rights of Maine Anti-War and Labor Activists (11/03/2006)
PORTLAND, ME -- On Monday in Boston the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit will hear arguments about the constitutionality of Augusta's free speech restrictions. The Maine Civil Liberties Union successfully challenged the city's Parade Ordinance and Mass Outdoor Gathering Ordinance, resulting in a December 2005 decision striking down Augusta's restrictions as unconstitutional.

ACLU of Louisiana Files Lawsuit to Protect Free Speech Rights of Christian Protestor (10/27/2006)
NATCHITOCHES, LA -- Today the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana filed a lawsuit on behalf of a lone protestor who was denied his free expression rights by the city of Natchitoches. Edwin Crayton, a devout Christian, sought to stand in front of Wal-Mart in Natchitoches with a sign protesting the corporation’s alleged position on gay marriage.

Arkansas Students Can Wear Armbands as Form of Protest, Federal Judge Rules (10/19/2006)
PINE BLUFF, AR -- In a victory for students’ free speech rights, federal Judge Leon Holmes ruled that students may wear black armbands to protest the restrictive uniform policy imposed by the Watson Chapel School District. The decision comes in a lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas charging that the school district violated the Constitution by suspending and punishing students who wore the armbands to school during a day of protest.

Arkansas Students Wrongly Punished for Wearing Armbands to School, According to ACLU Lawsuit (10/10/2006)
LITTLE ROCK, AR -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas today filed a federal lawsuit charging that the Watson Chapel school district violated students’ free speech rights by suspending students for wearing black armbands in opposition to the school uniform policy.

ACLU Files Lawsuit Charging Asheville, NC Violates Right to Stage Peaceful Demonstrations (10/04/2006)
ASHEVILLE, NC -- The American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina filed a federal lawsuit today on behalf of an immigration reform group that was charged exorbitant, unnecessary fees for a permit to hold a peaceful march in Asheville on May 1, 2006.

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.

Federal Judge Blocks Kentucky Law Limiting Speech at Funerals (09/26/2006)
FRANKFORT, KY – A federal judge in Kentucky today issued a first-ever ruling prohibiting enforcement of a statewide ban on peaceful protests and non-disruptive speech near funerals. The court order comes in a case brought by the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky, which argued that the state law went too far in restricting freedom of speech.

Seattle Settles ACLU Lawsuit Over Violation of Free Speech Rights During WTO Protests (09/14/2006)
SEATTLE -- Resolving a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union, Seattle officials will pay a settlement to two people whose free speech rights were violated during the World Trade Organization protests of 1999. The ACLU had charged that police arrested Victor Menotti simply because he was talking about WTO policies on a downtown street, and that a police officer confiscated a sign from Doug Skove because he did not like its content.

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.

ACLU of Washington Defends Free Speech Rights of Lt. Ehren Watada (08/22/2006)
TACOMA, WA -- In a military justice case that has drawn wide attention, the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington is backing the free speech rights of a soldier facing court martial for refusing to serve in the war in Iraq. The ACLU today submitted a friend-of-the-court brief contending that Lt. Ehren Watada should not be punished for his public statements expressing legal and moral objections to the war in Iraq.

ACLU of Hawaii Files Federal Lawsuit on Behalf of Peaceful Protesters (08/08/2006)
HONOLULU -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii filed a federal lawsuit today on behalf of advocates for the homeless who were arrested while peacefully protesting at Honolulu City Hall.