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ACLU joins defense of academic freedom at MIT (08/19/2008)
BOSTON - Today, in a case with national importance for academic freedom and freedom of speech, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts are seeking to lift a gag order on three MIT students who have discovered flaws in the electronic "Charlie Card" and "Charlie Ticket" payment systems used by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA). The hearing in MBTA v. Anderson takes place in U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts today, August 19, at 10:30 a.m., in the John Joseph Moakley Courthouse, Courtroom 9, before Judge George A. O'Toole, Jr.

ACLU-NCLF Files Lawsuit Against North Carolina State Board of Elections Challenging Total Ban on Lobbyist Contributions (08/19/2008)
RALEIGH – The American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina Legal Foundation (ACLU-NCLF) filed a lawsuit today in the federal district court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, challenging North Carolina's Campaign Contribution Prohibition, (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 163-278.13C(a)), which imposes a year-round total prohibition on certain state campaign contributions by lobbyists. The plaintiff in the case is Sarah Preston, the ACLU-NC's lobbyist, whose First and Fourteenth Amendment rights to freedom of association and free expression are being violated by the state law barring her from contributing even one dollar to the campaign of candidates for the state legislature and many other state offices at any time during the year, as long as she is registered as a lobbyist. This year-round, zero-dollar ban applies without regard to whether the would-be recipient of the contributions is, ever has been, or will be the object of Ms. Preston's lobbying efforts.

Oregon Supreme Court Finds State's Harassment Statute Unconstitutional (08/14/2008)
The Oregon Supreme Court today echoed the arguments of the ACLU Foundation of Oregon in its decision to reverse a Court of Appeals decision involving the "abusive speech" provision of the state's harassment law.

Creative Arts, Media and Free Speech Groups Join ACLU In Urging Supreme Court To Reject FCC Censorship (08/07/2008)
NEW YORK – In a friend-of-the-court brief filed today on behalf of creative arts, media and free speech organizations, the American Civil Liberties Union criticized the Federal Communication Commission's regulation of "indecent speech" as arbitrary, inconsistent and irreconcilable with core First Amendment values. The brief urges the Supreme Court to uphold a lower court ruling in Federal Communication Commission (FCC) v. Fox Television Stations, Inc. striking down the recent FCC decision to ban even "fleeting expletives" from the airwaves as an unjustified departure from the agency's longstanding practices.

Court Strikes Down Law Used To Remove Candidate's Political Signs (08/05/2008)
Ruling in an ACLU case, a federal judge has struck down a state law that was used by the Town of Richmond to repeatedly remove former Congressional candidate Rod Driver's political signs from private property during the 2006 election. In a 25-page opinion, Judge William Smith agreed with the ACLU that the statute violated Driver's First Amendment rights.

ACLU Calls FCC Penalty Against Comcast a Step Forward Toward Net Freedom (08/01/2008)
Washington, DC – Today the Federal Communications Commission is expected to penalize Comcast for violating the FCC’s principles to ensure open access to the Internet.

Media Shield Debate is Vital (07/30/2008)
Washington, DC – Today the Senate voted against a motion to move forward on much-needed media shield legislation. The American Civil Liberties Union once again voiced its support for strong a law that would protect the public’s right to know and expressed its disappointment that the Senate had allowed partisan politics to trump good policy.

ACLU Calls for Senate to Back Strong Media Shield Law (07/25/2008)
Washington, DC – As negotiations continue on media shield legislation in the Senate, the American Civil Liberties Union once again voiced its support for a law that fiercely protects the public’s right to know. Last year, the House passed the Free Flow of Information Act – a bill that has real protections for journalists and their sources.

Norfolk Drops Criminal Charges against Music Artist for On-stage Comments (07/24/2008)
Norfolk, VA -- The City of Norfolk has dropped cursing in public charges against rapper Raymond "Boots" Riley, who was removed from the stage during a performance at the Bayou Boogaloo at Town Point Park in June.

Palm Beach Student's Rights Upheld by 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Pledge of Allegiance Case (07/23/2008)
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida today claimed victory in its federal lawsuit, Cameron Frazier v. Cynthia Alexandre et al, as the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld an earlier District Court decision preventing a Palm Beach County school from requiring a student from standing to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. The court left the decision that Cameron Frazier's rights were violated untouched while leaving the door open for additional lawsuits by refusing to rule on the statute as it applies across the board to all students.

ACLU Appeals Conviction Of Pennsylvania Man Charged With Harassment For Contacting His Public Officials For Help (07/23/2008)
PITTSBURGH - The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania has filed an appeal in the state Superior Court on behalf of Bridgeville, PA resident Marshall Pappert, who was found guilty of harassment after he complained to the Bridgeville borough manager about the noise and pollution caused by a concrete manufacturing plant across the street from his home.