Home : Free Speech : Right to Protest

ACLU of Georgia Sues City Over Arrest of Political Activist During Fourth of July Celebrations (05/27/2004)
ATLANTA - The American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia today filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of a local activist, Georgia's Green Party and the Libertarian Party of Georgia, saying that police violated their rights when they were blocked from collecting ballot signatures in a public park during a Fourth of July celebration.

ACLU of Georgia Challenges City and County Ordinances Restricting Free Speech During G-8 Summit (05/03/2004)
GLYNN COUNTY, GA-- The American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia filed a lawsuit today challenging sweeping restrictions on free speech enacted by local authorities in anticipation of the G-8 Summit scheduled to take place on Sea Island June 8-10. The complaint, brought against City of Brunswick and Glynn County officials, was filed in federal court in Brunswick on behalf of local minister Zack L. Lyde and groups planning protest activities around the Summit.

ACLU and Peace Fresno Call on California Officials and Lawmakers to Investigate Surveillance of Anti-War Group (04/21/2004)
FRESNO, CA -- In a formal complaint filed today with California Attorney General Bill Lockyer, the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California and Peace Fresno are calling for a full investigation into the undercover surveillance of the anti-war group.

ACLU Challenges Boston's Permit Procedures for Protests During Democratic National Convention (04/15/2004)
BOSTON -- Lawyers for the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts and the National Lawyers Guild today said that they are seeking significant changes in proposed permit application procedures for groups seeking to hold events during the Democratic National Convention. The groups said that current plans will create unnecessary delays and obstacles to obtaining permits.

ACLU of Washington Lawsuit Seeks to Protect Free Speech Rights of Seattle Marchers (04/14/2004)
SEATTLE -- Seeking to protect free speech rights on Seattle streets, the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington today filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court here challenging the city's Parade and Special Events Ordinances.

ACLU of New Mexico Sues Albuquerque Police Over Mistreatment of Peaceful Protestors (03/22/2004)
ALBUQUERQUE -- The American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico and the New Mexico chapter of the National Lawyers Guild filed a civil rights lawsuit today against the Albuquerque Police Department over its handling of a protest against the Iraq war last March.

ACLU Sues City of Colorado Springs For Denying Permit to Peaceful Protestors During NATO Conference (03/15/2004)
DENVER -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado today sued the City of Colorado Springs, saying that city officials violated the First Amendment when they denied a permit request from six peace and justice activists to hold a protest on a public sidewalk across from a hotel hosting a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) conference last October.

NYCLU Calls On Mayor Bloomberg to Protect Peaceful Protest, Avoid Mass Arrests At Republican National Convention (03/12/2004)
NEW YORK -- In response to reports that the New York Police Department is gearing up to arrest 1,000 people a day during the upcoming Republican National Convention, the New York Civil Liberties Union today said it has sent a letter to Mayor Michael Bloomberg demanding that he protect the right of peaceful protest.

ACLU Sues Pennsylvania Township After Officials Send Protesters $3,000 Bill For Peaceful March (03/11/2004)
HARRISBURG, PA- A town's attempt to collect more than $3,000 in parade permit fees from three dozen peaceful protesters violates basic free speech rights, the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania charged today in a federal civil rights lawsuit.

Appeals Court Hears Arguments in ACLU Challenge to Seattle's WTO "No Protest Zone" (02/06/2004)
SEATTLE -- In arguments today before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington urged the court to rule that Seattle's establishment of a ""No Protest Zone"" during the meeting of the World Trade Organization in 1999 violated basic free speech rights.

ACLU Asks Miami Police to Compensate Protesters for Civil Rights Violations During FTAA Demonstrations (02/05/2004)
MIAMI - In letters faxed today to City of Miami officials, the Greater Miami Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida demanded compensation for two individuals whose civil rights were violated by police during November's Free Trade Area of the Americas ministerial meetings.

ACLU Files Lawsuits Challenging Police Practices to Be Used at 2004 Republican National Convention (11/19/2003)
NEW YORK -- The New York Civil Liberties Union today filed three lawsuits challenging New York City Police Department (NYPD) practices used at large demonstrations and expected to be used at the Republican National Convention next summer.

NYCLU Challenges NYPD Policy Barring Leafleting and Petitioning On Sidewalks Near Public Schools (10/22/2003)
NEW YORK - Acting on behalf of a youth advocacy group, the New York Civil Liberties Union today filed a lawsuit in federal court in Manhattan challenging a police department policy that prohibits groups and individuals from engaging in peaceful First Amendment activity -- including leafleting, petitioning, and picketing -- on public sidewalks in front of city schools.

ACLU Stands Up for Stand-Ups (10/07/2003)
BALTIMORE--The American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland today filed a lawsuit on behalf of a popular street performer who was banned from the city's Inner Harbor in October 2002 for making a joke deemed to be ""insensitive"" by Harborplace personnel.

ACLU Urges Miami Officials to Revise Unconstitutional Ordinance Aimed at Limiting Protest During Free Trade Meetings (09/24/2003)
MIAMI - Saying a proposed City of Miami protest ordinance that ""criminalizes objects instead of actions"" is an unconstitutional restraint on speech, the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida today sent a letter urging city officials to redraft the ordinance to comply with constitutional free speech protections.

Secret Service Ordered Local Police to Restrict Anti-Bush Protesters at Rallies, ACLU Charges in Unprecedented Nationwide Lawsuit (09/23/2003)
WASHINGTON - At events attended by President Bush and other senior federal officials around the country, the Secret Service has been discriminating against protesters in violation of their free speech rights, the American Civil Liberties Union charged today in the first nationwide lawsuit of its kind.

ACLU of Ohio Sues Parma Heights Officials for Attempting to Silence Critics During Memorial Day Parade (08/26/2003)
CLEVELAND - The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio today filed a federal lawsuit against officials in Parma Heights who threatened to arrest residents who were distributing leaflets critical of the Mayor and stopped a city councilman and his daughter from wearing shirts supporting his candidacy during a Memorial Day parade.

ACLU of Eastern Missouri Files Lawsuit to Protect Rights of Protesters During President's Visit (08/23/2003)
ST. LOUIS -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri today filed an emergency motion asking a federal court to allow protesters to peacefully demonstrate outside of the convention center where President George W. Bush is scheduled to address the American Legion.

Forty Dockworkers, Demonstrators, and Observers File Federal Lawsuit Over Injuries Sustained in Anti-War Protest at California Port (06/26/2003)
OAKLAND, CA -- The Oakland Police Department and the City of Oakland violated the constitutional rights of dozens of demonstrators, dockworkers, legal observers and others who were injured at a peaceful anti-war demonstration last April, according to a federal lawsuit filed today by the American Civil Liberties Union and a coalition of rights groups.

High Court Rejects Utah Church's Appeal in "Main Street" Case Over Ability to Restrict Free Speech in Public Area (06/23/2003)
SALT LAKE CITY - The American Civil Liberties Union today welcomed the Supreme Court's rejection of an appeal in a challenge to the Mormon Church's ability to restrict free speech rights in a public area of the city's Main Street Plaza here.