Home : Free Speech : Right to Protest

ACLU of MA Sues Holliston School Officials for Punishing Students Over Protest Signs (05/02/2002)
BOSTON--The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts today filed a lawsuit in Middlesex Superior Court on behalf of Amanda Melanson and Elizabeth Cooper, two seniors at Holliston High School who were suspended them from school for two days and banned -- for the rest of the school year --- from all extracurricular activities, including the senior prom and graduation, because they held signs protesting the expulsion of two classmates. 

Protesters Against Sweatshop Merchandise Outside Pirates Baseball Stadium Sue to Reclaim First Amendment Rights (04/09/2002)
PITTSBURGH-The American Civil Liberties Union today filed a federal civil rights lawsuit on behalf of four political activists who were arrested last month for distributing leaflets criticizing the Pittsburgh Pirates for selling merchandise made by Third World sweatshop labor. 

ACLU of Colorado Seeks to Close Denver Police "Spy Files" on Peaceful Protesters, Including Quakers and 73-Year-Old Nun (03/28/2002)
DENVER--The American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado today filed a class action lawsuit challenging the Denver Police Department's practice of monitoring and recording the peaceful protest activities of local residents and law-abiding advocacy groups and falsely labeling a Nobel Peace Prize-winning Quaker organization and a 73-year-old nun ""criminal extremists.""

ACLU Seeks to Close Secret Files on Peaceful Protests Kept By Denver Police (03/11/2002)
DENVER -- In a news conference today, the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Colorado demanded that the Denver Police Department stop monitoring and recording the peaceful protest activities of Denver-area residents and keeping files on the expressive activities of law-abiding advocacy organizations. 

Broad Coalition Urges FBI to Maintain Current Domestic Spying Guidelines; Says Any Weakening Would Threaten Constitutional Speech (03/06/2002)
WASHINGTON -- Joined by a broad and politically diverse coalition, the American Civil Liberties Union today urged Attorney General Ashcroft to retain current guidelines on domestic spying by the FBI, saying any relaxation would chill constitutionally protected political speech and divert resources from effective crime prevention. 

ACLU Releases Report on FBI Crusade Against Martin Luther King Jr.; Urges Ashcroft Not to Relax Spying Guidelines Drafted After Shameful Campaign (01/17/2002)
WASHINGTON -- The American Civil Liberties Union today released a case study on the grim smear campaign waged by the government against Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a study that comes on the heels of recent media reports that the Attorney General is considering relaxing guidelines on domestic spying put in place after the persecution of Dr. King and other political dissenters in the 1950s and 1960s. 

ACLU Appalled by Ashcroft Statement on Dissent; Calls Free Speech "Main Engine of Justice" (12/10/2001)
WASHINGTON -- In a blatant attempt to stifle growing criticism of recent government policy, Attorney General Ashcroft delivered testimony last week equating legitimate political dissent with something unpatriotic and un-American. We urge the Attorney General to learn from the history of American dissent -- from the Civil War to the civil rights struggle -- that free and robust debate is one of the main engines of social and political justice. While we feel as strongly as the rest of America that those who perpetrated the monstrous acts of September 11 must be brought to justice and our future safety ensured, we forcefully disagree with the Attorney General that domestic debate about the government response in any way harms the investigation. In fact, we believe debate only strengthens our government in this time of national crisis. 

ACLU of Illinois Challenges Official Ban on Demonstrations and Gatherings at Chicago's Federal Plaza (12/03/2001)
CHICAGO--Calling for federal officials to respect the rights of all persons to engage in meaningful public debate in these critical times, lawyers for the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois today asked a federal judge to lift the indefinite closure of Chicago's federal plaza.

Bowing to ACLU Request, CT University Agrees Not to Ban Protest Signs at Sports Arena (10/18/2001)
HARTFORD, CT -- In response to legal demands made by the Connecticut Civil Liberties Union on behalf of a student member of the University of Connecticut ""Student Labor Coalition,"" the University has rightfully agreed to allow students with signs critical of Nike Corporation to attend sporting events in the school's Gampel Arena. 

Utah's "Commercial Terrorism" Statute Violates Peaceful Protesters Rights, Court Rules (10/10/2001)
SALT LAKE CITY--Citing the First Amendment right to stage peaceful protests on public sidewalks, U.S. District Judge Bruce Jenkins today declared Utah's "commercial terrorism" statute unconstitutional and permanently blocked the law from taking effect.  Protesters (some of them dressed as animals) regularly pass out leaflets and picket in front of zoos, stores that sell fur and other enterprises that they believe exploit animals. 

ACLU Looks at Domestic Surveillance: Statement of Laura W. Murphy, Director, ACLU Washington National Office (10/10/2001)
WASHINGTON -- American history is replete with examples of law enforcement and intelligence organizations responding to a national crisis or social upheaval by asking Congress for greater freedom in how they can spy on American citizens and immigrants. Generally, these requests come with the soothing promise: "Trust us, we're the government; we'll only use these powers against the bad guys." 

Acting on Behalf of KKK and its Opponents, MN ACLU Questions Delay in Rally Permit Applications (08/15/2001)
ST. PAUL--In response to growing concerns over permit applications filed on behalf of the Ku Klux Klan and local KKK opposition group Can The Klan, the Minnesota Civil Liberties Union today is demanding that the Department of Administration grant the applications of both groups to rally on the capital by Friday. 

ACLU of Ohio Challenges Town's Limits on Display of Political Yard Signs (08/08/2001)
CLEVELAND--The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio today filed a lawsuit in federal court in Cincinnati challenging the limits placed on the display of election signs by the city of Fairfield in Butler County.

Federal Judge Orders NYPD to Reinstate Officer Fired for Public Statements about Street Crime Unit (07/25/2001)
NEW YORK--At the request of the New York Civil Liberties Union, a federal court today ordered the NYPD to reinstate police officer Yvette Walton, who was fired in April 1999 after she spoke publicly about misconduct by the NYPD's Street Crime Unit. 

NYCLU Files Lawsuit Challenging Huge Permit Fees For Activist Group Events in City Parks (07/18/2001)
NEW YORK--A new scheme authorizing the Parks Department to charge upwards of $100,000 to groups wishing to stage advocacy events in city parks violates the First Amendment, the New York Civil Liberties Union charged in a federal lawsuit filed today. 

Bowing to NYCLU Lawsuit, NYPD Agrees to Stop Jailing Protestors (07/12/2001)
NEW YORK--In a victory for the First Amendment right to protest, the New York City Police Department today agreed to rescind its policy of jailing people who commit minor offenses at protests and demonstrations.

California Community Group Wins Right to Engage in Free Speech Activities on July 4 (07/03/2001)
LOS ANGELES - People for Community Empowerment, a coalition organizing around energy and other community issues, will be able to go ahead with a rally and parade starting at El Dorado Park in Long Beach on July 4, after winning a temporary restraining order yesterday against the City of Long Beach. 

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: ACLU of San Diego Looks at Rights of Protesters During Weeklong Biotech Conference (06/27/2001)
SAN DIEGO--The ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties today issued an initial assessment of how civil liberties fared during the demonstrations and other activities associated with this week's conference of the biotechnology industry. 

Navy Violated Free Speech Rights of Vieques Protesters, ACLU Charges in Lawsuit (06/18/2001)
SAN JUAN, PR--The American Civil Liberties Union today filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of peaceful crowds protesting the United States Navy's bombing exercises on Vieques Island who were repeatedly assaulted with tear gas and rubber bullets by Naval personnel in riot gear.

ACLU and Animal Rights Group Challenge NJ Shore Town's Ban on Boardwalk Leafleting (05/30/2001)
TRENTON, NJ--Acting on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (""PETA""), the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey today filed a lawsuit challenging a town's ban on the distribution of leaflets and other printed matter.