Home : Free Speech : Right to Protest

New Report by ACLU of Northern California Documents Government Monitoring of Lawful Protest and Lack of Regulations (07/27/2006)
SAN FRANCISCO – Federal, state and local agencies have infiltrated or monitored the political activity of Californians throughout central and northern California in what has become a disturbing trend, according to a report released today by the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California.

ACLU of Eastern Missouri Challenges Law Banning Pickets and Protests One Hour Before or After a Funeral (07/21/2006)
ST. LOUIS, MO — The American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri filed a lawsuit today on behalf of Shirley L. Phelps-Roper, a member of a controversial conservative Christian church, over a Missouri law that infringes on her rights to religious liberty and free speech.

NYCLU Criticizes Proposal to Expand NYPD Control Over Protest Activity (07/19/2006)
NEW YORK -- The New York Civil Liberties Union today criticized a New York City Police Department plan to expand police control over protest activity, pledging to call on the New York City Council to block the proposed regulations if the plan is not abandoned.

ACLU Of Oregon Files Lawsuit Over Breakup of Demonstration During 2004 Bush Visit to Jacksonville (07/06/2006)
MEDFORD, OR -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon filed a class action lawsuit today against the U.S. Secret Service, the Oregon State Police, the Jackson County Sheriff and the Jacksonville Police Department, charging them with violating the constitutional rights of protesters when they forcibly broke up a peaceful demonstration in October 2004 during a visit to Jacksonville by President George W. Bush.

ACLU of Texas Files Lawsuit Over Restrictions on Protesters Outside President’s Ranch (06/30/2006)
WACO, TX —The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas today asked a district judge to block McLennan County officials from enforcing orders aimed at restricting anti-war protesters outside President Bush’s ranch in Crawford, saying the orders violate free speech rights and exceed the officials’ authority.

ACLU of Florida Sues Miami Officials for Blocking Human Rights Protest at Free Trade Meeting (06/27/2006)
MIAMI - The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida today filed a lawsuit in federal court on behalf of Amnesty International USA, charging that city and police officials prevented members of the human rights organization from exercising their constitutional right to assemble and protest, despite having obtained proper permits.

FBI Targeted Journalist Covering Free Trade Meetings in Miami (05/04/2006)
MIAMI -- The American Civil Liberties Union, Greater Miami Chapter, filed a lawsuit today on behalf of a journalist who was under FBI surveillance because of his involvement in protests. The ACLU has obtained FBI documents showing that the FBI monitored freelance journalist David Lippman as he traveled from his home in North Carolina to Miami to cover the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) protests in 2003.

ACLU of Kentucky Says Protest Ban at Funerals Restricts Free Speech (05/02/2006)
FRANKFORT, KY -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky filed a federal lawsuit today challenging restrictions on freedom of speech and expression in two bills passed during the 2006 session of the Kentucky General Assembly.

Minnesota Bill to Stop Funeral Protests May Backfire, Warns ACLU (03/09/2006)
ST. PAUL -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota today warned a joint meeting of the Senate Crime Prevention and Public Safety Committees that the popular push to ban protests at military funerals may actually end up causing the state to finance future protests by the followers of anti-gay activist Fred Phelps.

ACLU of Virginia Demands Apology and Damages for Student Arrested for Protesting Campus Military Recruiters (02/17/2006)
FAIRFAX, VA -- In a letter sent to George Mason University officials, the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia today demanded that school officials apologize and pay $50,000 in damages to Tariq Khan, a GMU student who was arrested for protesting the presence of military recruiters on campus.

Tens of Thousands Still Detained Longer than Law Allows, NYCLU Study Finds (01/31/2006)
NEW YORK-- More than one third of the people who are arrested and arraigned in New York City must wait more than 24 hours in jail before even seeing a judge or being informed of the charges against them, according to a New York Civil Liberties Union study released today.

Federal Judge Strikes Law Restricting Protest in Maine (12/22/2005)
BANGOR, ME -- Ruling in a case brought by the Maine Civil Liberties Union, U.S. District Court Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. today issued an order striking down an Augusta parade ordinance, after finding that the city unfairly imposed fees and rules on peaceful protesters seeking to march and gather in the state capital.

ACLU of New Jersey Defends Free Speech for Flemington Peace Protestor (12/15/2005)
FLEMINGTON, NJ -- The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey today announced that it is seeking the dismissal of a citation to Flemington resident Bob Flisser for being part of a public vigil for fallen soldiers without obtaining a permit. In an appearance before a municipal court, the ACLU said the Flemington "parade" ordinance violates numerous free speech protections.

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 Virginia Asks Hampton University to Accommodate Student Free Speech on Campus (12/01/2005)
HAMPTON, VA -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia today sent a letter asking Hampton University officials to refrain from punishing seven students accused of violating school policies by distributing leaflets on campus. The letter recommends that the university revise its rules governing demonstrations and distribution of literature in order to ensure student free speech rights on campus.

ACLU Challenges Indianapolis Noise Ordinance (11/28/2005)
INDIANAPOLIS – Acting on behalf of a the union leading a local “Justice for Janitors” campaign, the Indiana Civil Liberties Union today filed a lawsuit suit asking a federal court to declare Marion County’s noise ordinance unconstitutional and block the City of Indianapolis from enforcing the ordinance against the group.

Following ACLU Action, Virginia University Drops Charges Against Student Arrested for Protesting Campus Military Recruiters (11/14/2005)
RICHMOND, VA – The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia announced today that government lawyers in Fairfax County have agreed to drop their case against Tariq Khan, a George Mason University student who was arrested while protesting the presence of military recruiters on campus.

ACLU of Southern California Demands That School Allow Student to Distribute Flyers Opposed to Military Recruiters (10/28/2005)
LOS ANGELES - Acting on behalf of a South Bay high school student and his parents, the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California today sent a letter to the Manhattan Beach Unified School District demanding that school officials allow the student to distribute counter-military recruiting flyers without fear of punishment.

Following ACLU Action, George Mason University Will Not Press for Prosecution of Student Protester (10/20/2005)
FAIRFAX, VA - The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia learned today that, following an investigation, George Mason University officials have determined that a student demonstrator who was charged with trespassing and disorderly conduct should not be prosecuted in criminal court. The ACLU is representing the student, junior Tariq Khan, who was arrested Sept. 29 for protesting the presence of military recruiters on campus.

NYCLU Post-RNC Report Says City Must Change Protest Policies (08/30/2005)
NEW YORK -- One year to the day after the opening of the Republican National Convention in New York, the New York Civil Liberties Union issued a report reviewing police practices and proposing a range of recommendations.