Home : Free Speech : Censorship

ACLU of New Mexico Defends Homeowners After Neighborhood Association Attempts to Censor “Impeach Bush” Sign (12/05/2006)
RIO RANCHO, NM - The American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico announced today that it would take legal action against a Rio Rancho homeowners’ association if it made good on a threat to fine a local couple for projecting a sign that said “Impeach Bush” on the side of their home

ACLU Files Free Speech Lawsuit Against Rhode Island College for Censoring Reproductive Rights Signs (12/04/2006)
PROVIDENCE, RI - The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island today filed a federal lawsuit against Rhode Island College (RIC) for censoring signs posted by students in support of reproductive freedom. The lawsuit charges that the college's restrictive sign policy, which was adopted after the student signs were removed, violates the First Amendment.

Writers, Filmmakers, Performers and Free Speech Groups Urge Court to Reject FCC Censorship (11/30/2006)
NEW YORK-New standards adopted by the Federal Communications Commission to censor “indecency” on the airwaves are overly vague and unconstitutional, a coalition of 20 free speech organizations, community broadcasters, filmmakers, performers and writers argued in a legal brief filed today.

Maine Civil Liberties Union Challenges State Censorship of Artistic Beer Labels (11/30/2006)
PORTLAND, ME - The Maine Civil Liberties Union today filed legal papers challenging the state's refusal to issue permits to a beer distributor because their labels were deemed "undignified or improper." One beer features Santa Claus on its label, while another features a well-known French painting that hangs in the Louvre.

ACLU of Vermont Wins in Appeals Court Over Right of Student to Wear Anti-Bush T-Shirt (08/30/2006)
MONTPELIER, VT – The American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont announced today that the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals has reversed a lower court’s ruling and affirmed the free speech rights of a Williamstown Middle School student to wear a T-shirt critical of President Bush.

Filmmakers and Free Speech Groups Host "This Film Is Not Yet Rated" Screening in Manhattan (08/30/2006)
NEW YORK -- The Independent Film Channel, American Civil Liberties Union and National Coalition Against Censorship tonight will host an advance screening of the IFC original documentary This Film Is Not Yet Rated, the breakthrough film from Oscar-nominated director Kirby Dick, at the IFC Center in downtown Manhattan. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with the director, ACLU President Nadine Strossen, NCAC Executive Director Joan Bertin, Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly, and filmmakers Mary Harron (American Psycho) and Michael Tucker (Gunner Palace).

Prosecution of TV Provider Raises Free Speech Questions, NYCLU Says (08/24/2006)
NEW YORK -- The New York Civil Liberties Union today expressed serious concern about the prosecution of a satellite TV provider, Javed Iqbal, for allegedly importing and distributing TV broadcasts from a source of which the government disapproves.

Massachusetts Department of Education Liable for Unconstitutional Censorship, Says Court (08/01/2006)
BOSTON -- The Massachusetts Department of Education violated the United States Constitution when it prevented a critic of the state’s standardized testing system from speaking at a public education conference, State Superior Court Judge Hiller Zobel has ruled.

Library Association Supports ACLU of Florida Lawsuit Against Miami-Dade School Board Over Book Censorship (07/07/2006)
MIAMI, FL - The Florida Library Association supported a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida and the Miami-Dade Student Government Association against the Miami-Dade County School Board for its removal of the book Vamos a Cuba and the book series "A Visit to..." from local libraries and classrooms, the ACLU announced today.

ACLU of Florida Sues to Stop Book Censorship by Miami-Dade County School Board (06/21/2006)
MIAMI -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, Greater Miami Chapter, today filed a lawsuit against the Miami-Dade County School Board challenging the removal and banning of a series of children’s books, including the hotly debated Vamos a Cuba (A Visit to Cuba), from the public school’s library system.

Virginia Judge Allows Signs Critical of Local Officials (06/19/2006)
RICHMOND, VA – The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia today announced a victory for free speech after a Chesterfield County Circuit Court judge ruled that a homeowner who posted two large signs in his yard criticizing local government officials did not violate the county’s sign ordinance.

ACLU of Florida Disappointed by Miami-Dade School Board's Vote to Ban Book on Cuba (06/14/2006)
MIAMI -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida today expressed disappointment over the Miami-Dade School Board’s decision to censor the book, “Vamos a Cuba,” from public schools.

ACLU of Virginia Challenges Ban on Alcohol-Related Advertising in College Publications (06/08/2006)
RICHMOND, VA - The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia today filed a federal lawsuit against the State Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control charging that its restrictions on alcohol-related advertisements in college publications are unconstitutional. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the Collegiate Times and The Cavalier Daily, student-run newspapers at Virginia Tech and the University of Virginia, respectively.

ACLU of San Diego Defends 15-Year-Old High School Honors Student Disciplined for Wearing an American Flag in Her Back Pocket (04/13/2006)
SAN DIEGO -- Fallbrook Union High School officials violated the First Amendment when they ordered 15-year-old honors student Malia Fontana to remove the small American flag she was carrying in her back pocket, the American Civil Liberties Union of San Diego and Imperial Counties said in a letter delivered to the school today.

New York Civil Liberties Union Wins Federal Court Victory for Conscientious Objector (03/20/2006)
NEW YORK, NY - The New York Civil Liberties Union announced today that a federal district court has ordered the U.S. Army not to deploy a soldier to Afghanistan who has a pending application for Conscientious Objector (C.O.) status.

ACLU Calls for Reinstatement of Students Suspended from University of Illinois Paper (02/17/2006)
NEW YORK - The American Civil Liberties Union today called upon the University of Illinois to reinstate the editor in chief and opinions page editor of the student newspaper, the Daily Illini, who were suspended after reprinting a series of controversial cartoons satirizing the Prophet Mohammad.

ACLU Challenges Patriot Act Provision Used to Exclude Prominent Swiss Scholar from the United States (01/25/2006)
NEW YORK -- The American Civil Liberties Union today filed a lawsuit challenging a provision of the Patriot Act that is being used to deny visas to foreign scholars whose political views the government disfavors. The lawsuit charges that the “ideological exclusion” provision is being used to prevent United States citizens and residents from hearing speech that is protected by the First Amendment.

ACLU Condemns Hidden Provision that Would Impede Freedom of Speech; Patriot Act Reauthorization Bill Would Empower Secret Service as Censors (12/12/2005)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today denounced a provision contained within legislation created to reauthorize the Patriot Act that would make major changes to the criminal statutes administered by the Secret Service and could seriously damage the free speech rights of all Americans. The controversial provision has not had any Congressional review or hearings.

ACLU of Maryland Calls for Acclaimed Books to be Returned to School Shelves (12/08/2005)
WESTMINSTER, MD – Following a petition drive by Winters Mill High School students, he American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland is calling for an end to the censorship that has stripped several books from the shelves of school libraries.

ACLU Urges Boston Mayor to Abandon T-Shirt Censorship (12/02/2005)
BOSTON -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts today sent a letter to Mayor Thomas M. Menino and Boston Police Commissioner Kathleen O’Toole urging them to abandon the announced plan to send city officials into shops to seize or “strongly discourage” the sale of T-shirts emblazoned with the message: “Stop Snitchin’.”