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ACLU of MD Asks Court to Throw Out Annapolis 'Anti-Loitering' Law (07/06/2000)
BALTIMORE, MD -- In a motion filed today on behalf of the local NAACP, the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland asked a federal judge to rule Annapolis' anti-loitering law unconstitutional on the grounds that it violates free speech rights and is enforced mainly against African Americans, Hispanics and public housing residents.

ACLU Declares Victory in Challenge to Colorado "Anti-profanity" Regulation (07/06/2000)
DENVER, CO -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado (ACLU) declared victory today in a free speech case, saying that the State of Colorado has agreed to stop enforcing a regulation that forbids owners of bars and restaurants from "permitting profanity" on their premises.

ACLU Challenges Local Georgia County Ordinance Restricting Flags and Other Lawn Decorations (07/06/2000)
ATLANTA, GA -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia today filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of local residents challenging a county ordinance that makes it illegal to post signs and flags on private residential property.

Peace Activist Settles Lawsuit Against United States Customs Service (07/06/2000)
DETROIT, MI -- In a settlement negotiated by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Constitutional Rights, the U.S. Customs Office has agreed to return illegally seized film and videocassettes of conditions in Iraq to peace activist Daniel Handelman. Mr. Handelman will also receive $15,000 in damages and attorney fees.

ACLU Files First Amendment Lawsuit Over Street Performers (06/29/2000)
HONOLULU, HI -- Acting on behalf of street performers and a religious organization, the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai'i today filed suit in state court challenging the constitutionality of a new city and county law that severely limits First Amendment rights.

Saying "Show Me the Money," ACLU of West Virginia Calls For an End to Lawmakers' Closed-Door Budget Meetings (06/21/2000)
CHARLESTON, WV -- The American Civil Liberties Union of West Virginia, together with advocacy groups and a local delegate, today filed a lawsuit in the State Supreme Court of Appeals challenging the State Legislature's secretive "Budget Digest" process.

Rights Groups and Citizen Activists Sue U.S. Postal Service Over Ban on Collecting Petition Signatures (06/01/2000)
WASHINGTON--In a case that could affect the right of grassroots activists across the nation to bring issues before their fellow voters, a coalition today filed a federal lawsuit seeking to overturn a new U.S. Postal Service regulation banning citizens from collecting signatures for initiative petitions on postal property.

Yahoo! Lawsuit Strikes an Important Blow For Internet Privacy and Free Speech (05/11/2000)
NEW YORK--A federal lawsuit filed today in California could establish important protections for Internet privacy and anonymity, according to the American Civil Liberties Union and the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC).

ACLU Comments on Possible Restrictions of Media Coverage in Elian Gonzalez Matter (04/13/2000)
MIAMI -- Reports are circulating that the media may be excluded from the area surrounding Elian Gonzalez's home, if and when federal authorities attempt to remove the boy from the custody of his Miami relatives and reunite him with his father in Washington.

Settlement Provides Due Process for Cable Access Producers (04/06/2000)
SEATTLE -- A major cable television company and a producer have reached a settlement to a federal lawsuit over the cancellation of a program on Seattle's cable access television channel. The American Civil Liberties Union of Washington State represented the film producer, Michael Aivaz, in challenging the cancellation.

ACLU Appeals Ruling on Posting of Cyber Patrol Internet "Blacklist" Key (04/05/2000)
NEW YORK -- Vowing to fight legal efforts to stifle criticism of Internet "censorware," the American Civil Liberties Union is appealing a Boston judge's order prohibiting distribution of a program that allows owners of Cyber Patrol blocking software to learn which Web sites are "blacklisted."

ACLU Challenges Miami's Loyalty Oath on Behalf of Censored Arts Groups (04/05/2000)
Today's case is but the latest episode in the ACLU's battle against censorship of the arts related to anti-Cuba sentiment. Last year, Miami officials tried to prevent Miami promoter Debra Ohanian from sponsoring a performance of Cuban salsa band Los Van Van. The ACLU intervened on Ohanian's behalf, and the performance was ultimately held at the Miami Arena. Since then, however, Ohanian has been unable to proceed with plans to host an island music festival featuring Cuban nationals at the American Airlines Arena later this year.

In Legal First, Federal Appeals Court is Unanimous: First Amendment Applies to Programming Code (04/04/2000)
CLEVELAND, OH -- The American Civil Liberties Union today lauded a first-ever ruling by a federal appeals court that the First Amendment protects documents written in computer programming languages.

Marv Johnson Joins ACLU Washington Office As First Amendment Legislative Counsel (03/22/2000)
Laura W. Murphy, Director of the ACLU's Washington National Office, announced the appointment, noting that the ACLU has long fought to protect the First Amendment. 

ACLU Says Increased Security Fees at Grammy Winning Cuban Band Concert are Unfair (03/22/2000)
MIAMI -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida today filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of a Miami Beach concert promoter against the City of Miami saying that unusually high security fees were unfairly charged to Cuban band Los Van Van because the band might prompt anti-Castro Cuban protests. 

ACLU Calls White House Report on Internet Crime Law Enforcement "Wish List" (03/09/2000)
WASHINGTON-- A White House report on blocking Internet crime contains dangerous recommendations that would strip away basic privacy, free speech and free press protections, the American Civil Liberties Union warned today.

ACLU Sharply Criticizes White House Propaganda Scheme (01/14/2000)
WASHINGTON -- Revelations that the federal government has secretly inserted its propaganda into popular television sit-coms and dramas brought sharp criticism today from the American Civil Liberties Union.

ACLU Condemns Judge's Gag Order on Televising Trial of Sara Jane Olson (01/11/2000)
Media organizations, including CNN and Court TV, along with Olson's defense team, had requested that the trial, scheduled to begin in February, be televised. But Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James M. Ideman denied the request, saying, according to news accounts, "I believe, along with most of my colleagues, that televising trials can be a bad thing. I'm ag'in it. I admit my bias." 

Former U.S. Employee Sues Over Loyalty Oath (12/22/1999)
WASHINGTON--A woman who lost her job for refusing to sign a loyalty oath has filed suit in federal court, the Washington Post reported on December 22nd. The woman claims that the oath violates her First Amendment rights to freedom of religion and free speech and is therefore unconstitutional. The oath is required of almost all of the 1.8 million permanent federal employees.

Montana Tunes in to Constitutional Rights Via Public Service Announcements from ACLU (12/14/1999)
BILLINGS, MT -- Radio listeners in Montana are getting 60-second lessons on religious liberty, free speech, privacy rights, and other key Constitutional rights along with their news, weather and traffic reports, courtesy of the American Civil Liberties Union.