Home : Free Speech : Right to Protest

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.

ACLU of Wisconsin Defends Oshkosh Man Fined for Displaying a Political Sign Near a Highway (08/25/2004)
MILWAUKEE WI - The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin entered Winnebago County Circuit Court today on behalf of Oshkosh resident Jacob Burns to contest a ticket he received for displaying a political sign on a bridge over a highway.

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.

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.

ACLU Denounces FBI Tactics Targeting Political Protesters (08/16/2004)
NEW YORK-The American Civil Liberties Union today denounced the FBI's use of the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) to monitor, interrogate and suppress anti-war and other political protesters and called on individuals who have been targeted for investigation to come forward.

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.

ACLU Calls on Massachusetts Transit Authority to Discontinue Subway Searches After Democratic Convention (07/28/2004)
BOSTON - The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts today called upon the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority to discontinue its policy of searching commuters on the Boston-area train and subway system, despite a court ruling today upholding the constitutionality of such searches in the unique and narrow circumstances of the Democratic National Convention.

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.

Despite Harsh Description, Federal Court Leaves Protest Area Unchanged at Democratic Convention (07/26/2004)
BOSTON - Despite describing the protest pen at the Democratic National Convention as little more than an ""internment"" camp, a federal appeals court today denied an appeal of a lower court ruling that left the protest area unchanged.

ACLU Denounces Boston's Random Subway Searches (07/22/2004)
BOSTON -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts today criticized a plan by Massachusetts transit officials to conduct random bag searches on the more than one million people who use the train and subway system each day. The ACLU is calling on commuters to assist in bringing a legal challenge to the random search policy, which is the first in the nation.

ACLU Applauds Court Decision on Parade at Democratic National Convention Site (07/22/2004)
BOSTON-The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts welcomed a decision today by a U.S. District Court to permit a peaceful parade near the site of next week's Democratic National Convention, but decried the court's decision in a second case in which he declined to make changes to the so-called "free speech zone," consisting of a metal pen to isolate and confine protesters outside the convention site.

Under Pressure from ACLU of Arkansas, City Officials Revise Unconstitutional Parade Ordinance (07/20/2004)
LITTLE ROCK, AR-- The American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas announced today that Nashville city officials have revised their policy on parade permits after complaints by the ACLU charged that a city ordinance violated residents' First Amendment rights.

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 of Massachusetts Challenges Boston's Denial of Parade Permit During Democratic National Convention (07/19/2004)
BOSTON - The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts today filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of a coalition of peaceful protest groups against city officials over their refusal to allow a parade in front of the FleetCenter before and during the Democratic National Convention.

ACLU Sues to Protect Free Speech Rights of Anti-Abortion Church Group in Indiana (07/16/2004)
SCOTTSBURG, IN-- The Indiana Civil Liberties Union announced today that it has filed a lawsuit to stop city officials' unconstitutional infringements on the free speech rights of a Baptist preacher and his congregation.

ACLU Applauds Court Decision to Dismiss Charges Against Couple Wearing Anti-Bush T-Shirts at a July 4th Presidential Rally (07/15/2004)
CHARLESTON, WV - In a victory for free speech, the American Civil Liberties Union of West Virginia applauded a court decision today dismissing trespassing charges against a couple who wore anti-Bush t-shirts to a July 4th rally for the president at the state Capitol.

ACLU Welcomes CA Attorney General's Investigation of Undercover Surveillance of Anti-War Group (06/29/2004)
SAN FRANCISCO - The American Civil Liberties Union today welcomed the news that California Attorney General Bill Lockyer has agreed to conduct an investigation into the undercover surveillance of Peace Fresno, a community organization featured in Michael Moore's new film Fahrenheit 9/11.

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.

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.