Home : Free Speech : Censorship

ACLU Says Texas Police Violated Art Gallery Owner's Freedom of Expression (01/11/2005)
DALLAS-The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas today announced that it has filed a lawsuit against the city of Pilot Point and its police department, charging that police officers violated an art gallery owner's freedom of expression by coercing him to remove a mural depicting the biblical story of Eve.

ACLU Settles Lawsuit Challenging Censorship Policies in Colorado Prisons (11/30/2004)
DENVER--The American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado announced today that it has settled its lawsuit challenging the state's broad censorship of books, newspapers, magazines, and political commentary available to prisoners.

ACLU of Kansas and Western Missouri Seeks Additional Information from Kansas Attorney General on CD Censorship (08/17/2004)
TOPEKA, KS - In a letter submitted today, the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas and Western Missouri called on Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline to explain his decision to ban over 30 music CDs from Kansas libraries.

Following Legal Challenge from ACLU and Drug Policy Reform Groups, Federal Court Strikes Down Law Censoring Marijuana Policy Reform Ads (06/03/2004)
WASHINGTON -In a stinging rebuke, a federal judge today struck down a law prohibiting the display of marijuana policy reform ads in public transit systems, saying that the government's attempt to censor ads was "illegitimate and constitutionally impermissible." The judge also issued a permanent injunction prohibiting its enforcement.

ACLU Calls on University of Rhode Island to Halt Censorship of Professor's Website (05/27/2004)
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The American Civil Liberties of Rhode Island said today that it has called on University of Rhode Island officials to correct "a very disturbing issue of academic censorship" at the University involving a Women's Studies professor who is an expert on the international trafficking of women and children.

Michigan School Reverses Student's Suspension For Wearing "Anarchy" T-Shirt (05/10/2004)
DETROIT - Officials with Bay City Schools have changed their minds about suspending a high school student for wearing a t-shirt with an anarchy symbol, after the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan appealed the suspension, the ACLU announced today.

ACLU and Drug Policy Groups Challenge Censorship of Advertisements Criticizing "War on Drugs" in Federal Court (04/28/2004)
WASHINGTON- In arguments in federal court today, the nation's major drug policy reform groups urged a judge to strike down a law that bars local transit authorities from accepting advertisements critical of the government's "War on Drugs."

ACLU Warns House Approval of Increased Indecency Fines Will Have a Chilling Effect on Speech (03/11/2004)
WASHINGTON - As the House today passed legislation to increase Federal Communications Commission fines for broadcast indecency, the American Civil Liberties Union called the measure ill-advised, saying that current ambiguities in the definition of indecency, coupled with the increased penalties, would chill free speech over the nation's airwaves, and called on the Senate to preserve First Amendment protections.

ACLU Says Increased Indecency Fines Threaten Greater Chilling Effect on Speech (02/11/2004)
WASHINGTON - In light of a House hearing on legislation to increase Federal Communications Commission fines for broadcast indecency, the American Civil Liberties Union today urged caution against such a move, saying that current ambiguities in the definition of indecency, coupled with the increased penalties, would serve to chill free speech over the nation's airwaves.

ACLU Sues Cleveland Officials, Police Department Over Officer Gag Order, African American Supervisors Were Threatened for Criticizing Placement Scheme (10/09/2003)
CLEVELAND -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio today filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of three African American police supervisors who were threatened with discipline for publicly criticizing police deployment practices.

ACLU Urges Kansas Public Library Not to Censor Employee for Discussing Historic Sodomy Ruling (07/16/2003)
TOPEKA, KS - Citing serious First Amendment violations, the American Civil Liberties Union today sent a letter to the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library asking that it reconsider its actions in forbidding one of its staff members from talking at work about the recent historic Supreme Court ruling banning sodomy laws.

ACLU of Arkansas and Broad Coalition Challenge State's 'Harmful to Minors' Law (06/23/2003)
LITTLE ROCK, AR--Saying that an amended state law meant to shield minors from reading material deemed ""harmful"" would also censor valuable speech for adults and teens, the American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas and a broad-based coalition of organizations and businesses today filed a federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Arkansas statute.

ACLU of Nevada Asks Court to End Ban of Book Critical of the IRS (05/01/2003)
LAS VEGAS--Joined by several national organizations opposed to censorship, the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada today filed a friend-of-the-court brief that seeks to end the ban of a book written by an anti-tax activist.

ACLU of Massachusetts Condemns Censorship of "Bowling for Columbine" at Local High School (04/07/2003)
BOSTON - Saying that administrators at a local high school may have violated the First Amendment rights of an English teacher, the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts today condemned a recent decision by the school's principal to prevent the teacher from showing students the award-winning film, "Bowling for Columbine," because it allegedly contained anti-war messages.

NYCLU Demands Retraction of White House Threat to Censor Parody of Vice President's Wife (03/04/2003)
NEW YORK--The New York Civil Liberties Union today sent a letter to the Office of Vice President Richard Cheney vowing to protect the free speech rights of a political humorist whose website satirizes Mr. Cheney's wife, Lynne.

ACLU of Washington Welcomes City's Apology to Artists for Censoring Their Works (03/03/2003)
PASCO, WA--The American Civil Liberties Union of Washington today welcomed an apology by city officials for violating the First Amendment rights of two local artists whose works were excluded from a City Hall exhibit in 1996.

ACLU Defends Internet Free Speech in Three Courts Coast to Coast (11/01/2002)
NEW YORK-The American Civil Liberties Union fought censorship of the Internet from coast to coast this week, taking action in three separate courtrooms to make sure that free speech on the Internet does not get trampled.

"Harry Potter" Series Tops List of Banned Books in Texas, According to ACLU Report (09/20/2002)
AUSTIN, TX -The popular ""Harry Potter"" books by J.K. Rowling were the top target of censors during the 2001-2002 school year, the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas said today in its sixth annual report on banned books.

NYCLU and Coalition of Groups Demand End to Censorship on New York's English Exams (06/03/2002)
NEW YORK--At a news conference today, a diverse ad-hoc coalition including the New York Civil Liberties Union denounced the State Board of Regents and State Education Commissioner Richard Mills for engaging in censorship on the statewide English Language Arts exam. 

Honolulu Settles Lawsuit Over Banned Art (03/06/2002)
HONOLULU -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai`i today announced the settlement of a case filed against the City and County of Honolulu for banning the art work of a local artist from an exhibit at Honolulu's City Hall last year.