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 : General : Press Releases

ACLU of New Jersey Challenges Arbitrary Police Fees for March (07/09/2007)
NEWARK - The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey and the Farmworkers' Support Committee today filed a lawsuit in federal district court against the city of Bridgeton for charging a fee of more than $1,500 for an immigrant rights March held on May 1.

ACLU, Teachers Union Settle Free Speech Lawsuit Against City of Boston (07/02/2007)
BOSTON -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts and the Boston Teachers Union today announced that they have settled a federal lawsuit filed on behalf of long-time substitute teacher Jeffrey Herman against Jose Duarte, the headmaster of Boston's English High School. Duarte put Herman on a "Do Not Call" substitute teacher list for English High School after Herman testified at a Boston City Council hearing against the city spending over one million dollars for Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) programs in Boston public schools.

ACLU Urges Government to Stay Out of America’s Living Rooms: (06/26/2007)
WASHINGTON, DC - In light of today’s scheduled Senate Commerce Committee hearing on television violence, the American Civil Liberties Union urged lawmakers to reject any proposals that would allow the Federal Communications Commission to regulate violence on television. The American Civil Liberties Union is committed to preserving and protecting free speech and believes government should not replace parents as decision makers in America’s living rooms.

ACLU of Florida Demands Changes in Ordinance That Criminalizes and Denies Free Speech at Public Events (06/25/2007)
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida today called for changes to a controversial city ordinance that restrains free speech during public events.

ACLU Encourages Free Flow of Information To Journalists (06/14/2007)
Washington, DC - The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) commended the House Judiciary Committee as it considered legislation that would protect the First Amendment. Congressmen Rick Boucher (D-VA) and Mike Pence (R-IN) introduced the legislation, called Free Flow of Information Act, in May to protect journalists from having to reveal their confidential sources. Though the bill would protect journalists from subpoenas, it also includes a narrow exception that would allow a reporter to be compelled to reveal a source if there is an actual and imminent danger to national security or public safety.

ACLU Marks Fifth Anniversary of Ashcroft Surveillance Guidelines; Report Calls for Guidelines to be Changed to Prevent FBI Abuse (05/29/2007)
Washington, DC - The American Civil Liberties Union today marked the fifth anniversary of the FBI’s 2002 revised Guidelines on General Crimes, Racketeering Enterprise and Terrorism Enterprise Investigation with a new report, "History Repeated: The Dangers of Domestic Spying by Federal Law Enforcement."

ACLU Joins With Right-Left Groups To Welcome House Stand on First Amendment (05/25/2007)
WASHINGTON, DC - The American Civil Liberties Union praised the House for passing its version of the lobby reform bill without an amendment that would have infringed upon the First Amendment. The language of a grassroots lobbying amendment introduced by Representatives Marty Meehan (D-MA) and Christopher Shays (R-CT) was considered vague and would have undermined citizen advocacy and activism.

Following NYCLU Lawsuit, New York City Agrees To Reform Film Permit Scheme (05/23/2007)
NEW YORK - The New York Civil Liberties Union hailed a settlement released today, in which New York City has agreed to create, for the first time, written rules governing the issuance of permits for film makers and photographers. Under the new rules, which are to be published Friday in the City Record, film makers and photographers using hand-held equipment no longer will be required to obtain city permits or to have $1 million of insurance.

ACLU Decries Scientific Censorship at Smithsonian (05/23/2007)
Washington, DC – The American Civil Liberties Union today denounced the Smithsonian Institution’s censorship of an Arctic climate change exhibit. Smithsonian scholars watered down a climate change report by scientists, believing it would cause a stir in Congress and the White House.

ACLU Hails House Committee’s Stand for Free Speech (05/17/2007)
Washington, DC - The American Civil Liberties Union congratulated the House Judiciary Committee for rejecting a controversial amendment to lobbying reform legislation at a mark-up hearing today. Representatives Marty Meehan (D-MA) and Christopher Shays (R-CT) tried to attach a provision to the bill that would require registration and regulation of citizen campaigns that encourage the general public to lobby Congress. The ACLU believed the language of the amendment was vague and would undermine advocacy and activism, thereby violating the First Amendment.

In Victory for Free Expression, NYCLU and Restaurateur Send Uncensored Postcards Through U.S. Postal Service (05/15/2007)
NEW YORK - The New York Civil Liberties Union joined renowned restaurateur Jean-Claude Baker on Tuesday to give a triumphant send-off to a batch of postcards that have been the subject of a free speech battle between Baker and the United States Postal Service.

ACLU Hails Reporter Shield Legislation (05/02/2007)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today applauded Congressman Rick Boucher (D-VA) for introducing the Free Flow of Information Act of 2007. The proposed bill helps ensure the government is open to public scrutiny by protecting journalists’ access to confidential sources. It also prevents government officials from chilling those sources by preventing their disclosure unless there is an actual and imminent danger to national security or public safety.

Proposed Amendments to City Lobbying Law Threaten Individuals and Families Associated with Controversial Organizations, NYCLU Testifies (04/11/2007)
NEW YORK - In testimony before the New York City Council today, the New York Civil Liberties Union condemned proposed amendments to the city's lobbying law that would require the disclosure of personal information about lobbyists and their families.

ACLU Sues White House Staffers for Ejecting Denver Residents from Bush Event (03/15/2007)
DENVER, CO - The American Civil Liberties Union today filed a complaint against three White House staffers for illegally ejecting Denver residents from a taxpayer-funded town hall with President Bush, even though they had done nothing to disrupt the event. The residents, who have been dubbed the “Denver 3” by the media, were singled out because of an anti-war bumper sticker on their car

ACLU of Hawaii Victorious in Challenge to Honolulu Prosecutor’s Unlawful Use of Public Funds in Political Campaigning (03/14/2007)
HONOLULU - In a victory for voter fairness on election ballot measures, the state Supreme Court sided with the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii in ruling that a Honolulu prosecutor unlawfully used public funds and resources to urge voters to approve a proposed constitutional amendment.

ACLU Praises Protection of Freedom of Information Act, Says OPEN Government Act A Step in the Right Direction (03/13/2007)
WASHINGTON – The American Civil Liberties Union today applauded the Senate introduction of the OPEN Government Act of 2007. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) introduced the legislation, which will both protect and strengthen the Freedom of Information Act.

In Victory for Open Government, New Jersey Supreme Court Rules Videotaping of Public Meetings is a Basic Right (03/07/2007)
NEWARK, N.J. - The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey praised a New Jersey Supreme Court decision released today that protects an individual's right to videotape public meetings.

ACLU Urges Lawmakers to Support Free Speech Rights of Servicemembers (03/06/2007)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today applauded Senator Carl Levin (D-MI), Chairman of the Armed Services Committee and Congressman John Tierney (D-MA), Chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs for holding hearings to investigate the mistreatment of veterans at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

MCLU Says Candidate’s Right to Exercise Political Speech Violated (03/02/2007)
PORTLAND, ME - On Monday, the Maine Civil Liberties Union will argue in Cumberland County Superior Court that a Maine law restricting political speech is unconstitutional.

ACLU Calls on New Jersey Supreme Court to Protect Reproductive Freedom and Free Speech (02/20/2007)
TRENTON, NJ - The American Civil Liberties Union today called on the New Jersey Supreme Court to protect women’s reproductive rights and physicians’ free speech rights. The ACLU urged the court to overturn a lower court medical malpractice decision that would have the effect of improperly forcing physicians to give a non-medical, value-laden speech to their patients before performing an abortion.

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