Home : Free Speech : Right to Protest

NYCLU Concerned About Change in Police Tactics During Peaceful Protests (08/31/2004)
NEW YORK -- As the Republican National Convention continues its second day and protests surrounding the RNC continue for the fifth day, the New York Civil Liberties Union today expressed concern about the change in tone and tactics of the New York Police Department.

Statement of Micah Anderson Regarding Secret Service Investigation of Indymedia (08/30/2004)
I have been doing technical work with Indymedia since the WTO protests in 1999. The Independent Media Center (IMC) is a grassroots organization launched in the fall of 1999 with the commitment to using media production and distribution as a tool for promoting social and economic justice.

ACLU Criticizes Secret Service Investigation of News Website That Posted RNC Delegates' Names (08/30/2004)
NEW YORK - In a letter sent today in response to a grand jury subpoena issued by the Secret Service, the American Civil Liberties Union and the New York Civil Liberties Union said they are representing a web hosting service and administrators of an independent media website regarding the anonymous posting of publicly available information about delegates to the Republican National Convention.

Subpoenaed Missouri Activists Speak Out on FBI Surveillance (08/30/2004)
NEW YORK-On the opening day of the Republican National Convention, three young political activists who were subpoenaed as part of an investigation by the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force in Kirksville, Missouri revealed their identities today, saying that they can no longer remain silent as the FBI steps up its efforts to spy on and interrogate other political protesters.

Statement of Brian Szymanski Regarding Secret Service Investigation of Indymedia (08/30/2004)
I have been involved in Indymedia since early 2001. Indymedia is based on the premise of open publishing -- empowering people to publish anything that they deem newsworthy with no filter except the reader's own -- to "be the media." It also gives the publisher the power to be anonymous, pseudonymous, or registered, so they can choose how much readers know about them. This is an extremely powerful device because it allows whistleblowers and others who need an assurance of anonymity to publish a story without fear of retribution while still letting journalists who wish to have their identities known build a reputation and readership.

NYCLU Co-Sponsors Demonstration to Strike Down Rockefeller Drug Laws (08/30/2004)
NEW YORK -- The New York Civil Liberties Union today joined a coalition of 50 organizations speaking out against laws and conditions that adversely impact poor people. The Still We Rise coalition will gather today near Union Square Park to march up Eighth Avenue to Madison Square Garden on the opening day of the Republican National Convention. The participants will rally around issues such as HIV awareness, housing and immigration policy, as well as the effort to bring real reform to the onerous Rockefeller Drug Laws in New York State.

Statement of Matt Toups Regarding Secret Service Investigation of Indymedia (08/30/2004)
I have been a volunteer with Indymedia for more than two years. I do technical work as a systems administrator to support our organization internationally, as well as contributing to my local branch of Indymedia in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I produce radio segments, photography, and video.

Statement of Nicholas Merrill, President of Calyx Internet Access Corp. Regarding Secret Service Investigation of Indymedia (08/30/2004)
I am the president of Calyx, a website hosting and security consulting company incorporated in 1995. On August 17, 2004, the U.S. Secret Service contacted Calyx regarding a post made by an unknown individual to the ""Open Publishing Newswire"" of Calyx's client, Indymedia. The agent verbally requested information and computer logs even though he had not obtained a valid warrant or subpoena. Because Calyx has a strong policy of protecting the privacy of our clients, I told the Secret Service I would not provide the information without a subpoena. I also contacted the ACLU to obtain legal guidance and to ensure that Calyx's customers' rights would be protected.

NYCLU Questions Pre-Emptive Arrests by NYPD During Republican National Convention (08/29/2004)
NEW YORK -- A weekend of upbeat and peaceful protests was marred by questionable tactics by the NYPD, the New York Civil Liberties Union said today. The NYCLU is investigating several incidents where police arrested individuals who were otherwise obeying the law.

ACLU of Wisconsin Defends Oshkosh Man Fined for Displaying a Political Sign Near a Highway (08/25/2004)
MILWAUKEE WI - The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin entered Winnebago County Circuit Court today on behalf of Oshkosh resident Jacob Burns to contest a ticket he received for displaying a political sign on a bridge over a highway.

NYCLU and CCR Urge New York Judge to Allow Peaceful Protest in Central Park During the Republican National Convention (08/24/2004)
NEW YORK--Attorneys for the New York Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Constitutional Rights today argued before the New York State Supreme Court that the city should open Central Park for a peaceful protest by United for Peace and Justice on August 29, the eve of the Republican National Convention. The lawyers told Judge Jacqueline Silberman that New York City is applying rules about political protest that appear nowhere in Parks Department regulations and are not available to the general public.

NYCLU and CCR Sue City to Secure Central Park Permit for Protest Rally During Republican Convention (08/18/2004)
NEW YORK--The New York Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Constitutional Rights today announced the filing of a lawsuit on behalf of United for Peace and Justice to secure a permit for a protest rally in Central Park on August 29th. The lawsuit follows months of protracted negotiations and an unacceptable solution for a rally to accommodate an estimated 250,000 protesters on the eve of the Republican National Convention.

ACLU Denounces FBI Tactics Targeting Political Protesters (08/16/2004)
NEW YORK-The American Civil Liberties Union today denounced the FBI's use of the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) to monitor, interrogate and suppress anti-war and other political protesters and called on individuals who have been targeted for investigation to come forward.

New York Congressional Leaders Call on Mayor Bloomberg to Protect First Amendment Rights at Republican National Convention (08/04/2004)
NEW YORK- U.S. Representatives Charles Rangel, Jerrold Nadler and Major Owens joined the New York Civil Liberties Union today in asking Mayor Michael Bloomberg to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on the regulation of protest activities at the forthcoming Republican National Convention. While acknowledging that positive actions have been taken by the city to safeguard First Amendment rights at the convention, the lawmakers highlighted several important outstanding issues that have yet to be acted on by Mayor Bloomberg.

ACLU Calls on Massachusetts Transit Authority to Discontinue Subway Searches After Democratic Convention (07/28/2004)
BOSTON - The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts today called upon the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority to discontinue its policy of searching commuters on the Boston-area train and subway system, despite a court ruling today upholding the constitutionality of such searches in the unique and narrow circumstances of the Democratic National Convention.

NYCLU Unveils "Protecting Protest" Storefront for the Republican National Convention (07/26/2004)
NEW YORK --The New York Civil Liberties Union announced today that it will formally open its ""Protecting Protest"" Storefront this week just two blocks from Madison Square Garden, the location of the upcoming Republican National Convention. The Storefront, at 520 Eighth Avenue (between 36th and 37th Streets) will serve as the NYCLU base of operations for monitoring protest activity during the convention.

Despite Harsh Description, Federal Court Leaves Protest Area Unchanged at Democratic Convention (07/26/2004)
BOSTON - Despite describing the protest pen at the Democratic National Convention as little more than an ""internment"" camp, a federal appeals court today denied an appeal of a lower court ruling that left the protest area unchanged.

ACLU Denounces Boston's Random Subway Searches (07/22/2004)
BOSTON -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts today criticized a plan by Massachusetts transit officials to conduct random bag searches on the more than one million people who use the train and subway system each day. The ACLU is calling on commuters to assist in bringing a legal challenge to the random search policy, which is the first in the nation.

ACLU Applauds Court Decision on Parade at Democratic National Convention Site (07/22/2004)
BOSTON-The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts welcomed a decision today by a U.S. District Court to permit a peaceful parade near the site of next week's Democratic National Convention, but decried the court's decision in a second case in which he declined to make changes to the so-called "free speech zone," consisting of a metal pen to isolate and confine protesters outside the convention site.

Under Pressure from ACLU of Arkansas, City Officials Revise Unconstitutional Parade Ordinance (07/20/2004)
LITTLE ROCK, AR-- The American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas announced today that Nashville city officials have revised their policy on parade permits after complaints by the ACLU charged that a city ordinance violated residents' First Amendment rights.