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ACLU Files Lawsuit on Behalf of Protesters Arrested at Bush Rally in Pennsylvania (12/09/2004)
LANCASTER, PA-The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania filed a federal lawsuit today on behalf of five men who were arrested after they stripped down to thong underwear and formed a human pyramid in anticipation of President Bush's motorcade procession through Lancaster County. The men attempted to re-create the infamous image that emerged from the Abu Ghraib prison scandal in Iraq.

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.

Federal Appeals Court Finds Mass Metal-Detector Searches of Georgia Protesters Unconstitutional (10/19/2004)
COLUMBUS, GA--The American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia today applauded a federal appeals court decision to strike down an unconstitutional city policy that forces thousands of protesters coming to demonstrate against a combat training school in November to undergo mass metal detector searches. The court also strongly condemned the city of Columbus for using post-9/11 fears as justification for the searches.

Pennsylvania DA Dismisses Charges Against Anti-Bush Protesters (10/15/2004)
LANCASTER, PA-The district attorney today withdrew all charges of disorderly conduct against six men who were arrested during a July 9th demonstration in anticipation of President Bush's motorcade procession. The men stripped down to thongs and attempted to re-create the infamous human pyramid image that emerged from the Abu Ghraib prison scandal in Iraq.

ACLU Defends Six Men Arrested During Protest at President Bush Rally (10/14/2004)
LANCASTER, PA-The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania on Monday will lead the defense team representing six men who were arrested after they stripped down to thong underwear and formed a human pyramid in anticipation of President Bush's motorcade procession through Lancaster County. The men attempted to re-create the infamous image that emerged from the Abu Ghraib prison scandal in Iraq.

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 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.

Secret Service and White House Charged with Violating Free Speech Rights in ACLU Lawsuit (09/14/2004)
CHARLESTON, WV - The American Civil Liberties Union today filed a lawsuit against the United States Secret Service and Greg Jenkins, Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of White House Advance, on behalf of a West Virginia couple who were arrested at a Fourth of July presidential appearance at the state Capitol because they were wearing t-shirts critical of the president.

ACLU Urges Wisconsin Police Chief to Work with Protesters to Protect Safety and Freedom (09/01/2004)
MILWAUKEE -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin said today that it has sent a letter to Chief Edward Kondracki of the La Crosse Police Department criticizing police conduct that may have chilled protesters' free speech at a campaign rally for President George W. Bush in May.

ACLU of New Jersey Charges Newark Policies Infringe on Free Speech (09/01/2004)
NEWARK--The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey filed a lawsuit today challenging two Newark policies that infringe on free speech by restricting people's rights to distribute leaflets on public sidewalks and requiring march and rally organizers to purchase expensive insurance policies.

ACLU of Massachusetts Calls for End to Massive Government Surveillance of Local Activist (08/31/2004)
BOSTON, MA -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, joined by the American Friends Service Committee and Boston City Councilors Chuck Turner and Felix Arroyo, today called for an end to government surveillance of local activist Kazi Toure, who has been subjected to intense political surveillance by law enforcement officers for nearly a week based on spurious reports that he would participate in protests at the Republican National Convention.

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.

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.

Statement of Nicholas Merrill, President of Calyx Internet Access Corp. Regarding Secret Service Investigation of Indymedia (08/30/2004)
I am the president of Calyx, a website hosting and security consulting company incorporated in 1995. On August 17, 2004, the U.S. Secret Service contacted Calyx regarding a post made by an unknown individual to the ""Open Publishing Newswire"" of Calyx's client, Indymedia. The agent verbally requested information and computer logs even though he had not obtained a valid warrant or subpoena. Because Calyx has a strong policy of protecting the privacy of our clients, I told the Secret Service I would not provide the information without a subpoena. I also contacted the ACLU to obtain legal guidance and to ensure that Calyx's customers' rights would be protected.

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.

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.

Statement of Matt Toups Regarding Secret Service Investigation of Indymedia (08/30/2004)
I have been a volunteer with Indymedia for more than two years. I do technical work as a systems administrator to support our organization internationally, as well as contributing to my local branch of Indymedia in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I produce radio segments, photography, and video.

Statement of Micah Anderson Regarding Secret Service Investigation of Indymedia (08/30/2004)
I have been doing technical work with Indymedia since the WTO protests in 1999. The Independent Media Center (IMC) is a grassroots organization launched in the fall of 1999 with the commitment to using media production and distribution as a tool for promoting social and economic justice.

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.