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ACLU Skeptical of Senate Report on "Homegrown" Terrorism (05/08/2008)
Washington, DC – After Senators Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced a report on Islamic homegrown terrorism today, the American Civil Liberties Union strongly urged Congress to use caution when moving forward on related legislation, the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007 (S. 1959). The report, "Violent Islamist Extremism, the Internet, and the Homegrown Terrorism Threat," is based on findings from hearings held by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. The ACLU and nearly twenty other groups sent a memo to the committee outlining concerns with the report, most notably the free speech implications of labeling the internet as a "weapon" and the unfair singling out of one religious group as possible "extremists."

NYCLU Will Assist with FBI Investigation into NYPD's Arrests of Convention Protesters (05/17/2006)
NEW YORK - The FBI has asked the New York Civil Liberties Union to assist in a criminal civil rights investigation into the New York City Police Department's arrest of protesters during the Republican National Convention.

ACLU Condemns Government Censorship at the Borders, Says Freedom of Speech and Association Must Be Protected (03/28/2006)
WASHINGTON- The American Civil Liberties Union today told a House panel that a section of the Patriot Act is being misused to exclude people from the U.S. based on their political beliefs constitutes "censorship at the borders" and infringes on Americans' freedom of speech and association.

ACLU Launches Nationwide Effort to Expose Illegal FBI Spying on Political and Religious Groups (12/02/2004)
WASHINGTON - Citing evidence that the FBI and local police are illegally spying on political, environmental and faith-based groups, the American Civil Liberties Union and its affiliates today filed multiple Freedom of Information Act requests around the country to uncover who is being investigated and why.

Prominent Chicago Area Organizations and Social Justice Activists Ask FBI to Make "Spy Files" Public (12/02/2004)
CHICAGO - Citing a need for public accountability and to guard against the wholesale surveillance of religious and political organizations, a diverse group of Chicago-area associations and individuals sharing a commitment to social justice and community service today filed federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) asking that agency to release surveillance files about those groups and individuals that were opened and maintained by FBI agents. The organizations and individuals reflect a broad coalition, including the local affiliates of legal organizations, groups committed to serving the Muslim and Arab population in the Chicago region, and local peace and justice coalitions.

Citing Evidence of FBI Political Spying, ACLU of Colorado Seeks Government Files on Behalf of 16 Groups and 10 Individuals (12/02/2004)
DENVER -- At a news conference today, the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado presented documentary evidence that the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force (""JTTF""), contrary to its public statements, has been collecting information about the peaceful protest activities of Colorado residents and the constitutionally protected activities of law-abiding advocacy groups.

ACLU Launches Nationwide Effort to Expose Illegal FBI Spying on Political and Religious Groups (12/02/2004)
DES MOINES -- Citing evidence that the FBI and local police are illegally spying on political, environmental and faith-based groups, the American Civil Liberties Union and its affiliates in Iowa and other states today filed multiple Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests around the country to uncover who is being investigated and why.

ACLU of New Jersey Announces Lawsuit Seeking Secret State Information on "Potential Threat Elements" (12/02/2004)
NEWARK, NJ -- The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey today filed a lawsuit challenging the New Jersey Attorney General's refusal to disclose information about individuals and organizations designated as "potential threat elements" (PTEs), including the criteria used by the state to make such determinations.

Oregon Joins Nationwide ACLU Effort to Expose Illegal FBI Spying on Political and Religious Groups (12/02/2004)
PORTLAND, OR - Citing evidence that the FBI and local police are illegally spying on political, environmental and faith-based groups elsewhere in the country, the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon today filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with the Portland Division of the FBI that is designed to uncover whether political and religious spying is also occurring here in Oregon.

ACLU of Michigan Joins Nationwide Effort to Expose FBI Spying on Law-Abiding Political and Religious Groups (12/02/2004)
DETROIT - Suspecting that law enforcement is spying on political and faith-based groups, the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan today filed Freedom of Information Act requests to the FBI and Michigan State Police to uncover who is being investigated and why. The requests are being made on behalf of Michigan peace and student activist groups, civil rights organizations, a Muslim charity and individuals who speak out against U.S. policies.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.