American Civil Liberties Union

Free Speech:
Freedom of speech is protected in the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights and is guaranteed to all Americans. Since 1920, the ACLU has worked to preserve our freedom of speech. Learn more and take action to protect the right to free speech.


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Free Speech : Commercial Speech : Press Releases view all

ACLU Letter to Senate on The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (06/01/2009)
We are writing on behalf of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to express our concern over the advertising restrictions contained in S. 982, The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (hereinafter the ‘2009 Tobacco Control Bill’). The ACLU is America’s largest and oldest civil liberties organization, having over half a million members, countless additional activists and supporters, and 53 affiliates nationwide. We last commented on the issue of tobacco advertising regulation when S. 2626, the Youth Smoking Prevention and Public Health Protection Act of 2002 (hereinafter the ‘2002 Youth Smoking Bill’), was introduced during the 107th Congress. As in 2002, we continue to believe that the advertising restrictions in this year’s bill are not drawn narrowly to achieve the stated public purpose and, as such, fail to comply with the free speech protections of the First Amendment. In the absence of a much more substantial narrowing of the advertising restrictions in a manner directly tied to the goal of reducing youth smoking, we urge the removal of the advertising restrictions set forth in Section 102 of the bill. It is our understanding that such an amendment is likely to be offered when the bill comes to the floor for consideration and we urge you to support it.

ACLU Says Rhode Island Billboard Restrictions Violate Free Speech (11/21/2005)
PROVIDENCE, RI -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island today filed a federal lawsuit challenging state laws and regulations that allow billboard signs on buildings near highways only if the sign promotes an activity taking place on the property. The ACLU filed the lawsuit on behalf of Anthony Joseph Vono and his business, Specialty Promotions, which have been cited by the state Department of Transportation for having a billboard sign that advertises “off premises activity.”

ACLU Calls for Preservation of Diversity In American Media Markets and Greater FCC Transparency (05/23/2003)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today called on the Federal Communications Commission to publicly release a specific rule change, reportedly under discussion internally, that would relax media ownership regulations and permit greater corporate concentration and cross-ownership of the mass media. Public comment and open hearings are necessary before the FCC can proceed, the ACLU said..

High Court Hears Arguments in Case that Tests Limits on Free Speech for Companies (04/23/2003)
NEW YORK - In a closely watched free speech case being argued before the Supreme Court today, the American Civil Liberties Union is urging the Justices to hold that statements by the Nike Corporation responding to accusations of unfair labor practices should not be treated as commercial speech.

ACLU Sues Rhode Island Airport Officials for Censoring Political Advertising of Corrections Officers' Group (11/13/2001)
PROVIDENCE, RI --The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island today filed a federal lawsuit against officials at T.F. Green Airport for censoring a political advertisement that a correctional officers group sought to install there earlier this year. 

Free Speech : Commercial Speech : Legal Documents

Lorillard Tobacco Company v. Reilly 00-596 (09/19/2001)
cojoined with Altadis U.S.A., Inc. v. Reilly 00-597 Supreme Court 2000 Term

Free Speech : Commercial Speech : Legislative Documents view all

Remove the Unconstitutional Limits on Using Names and Images of Soldiers from the Conference Report (11/09/2007)

Sign On Letter to the House of Representatives Urging Opposition to Efforts to Regulate Grassroots "Lobbying" (05/04/2007)

ACLU Letter to Members Urging Opposition to HR 3143, the International Consumer Protection Act (10/01/2004)

ACLU Comments to the Federal Communications Commission re: MB Docket No. 04-261, the Matter of Violent Television Programming and Its Impact on Children (09/15/2004)

ACLU Letter to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Commitee Expressing Concerns about S. 2281, the VOIP Regulatory Freedom Act of 2004 (07/21/2004)

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