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NYCLU Challenges NYPD Policy Barring Leafleting and Petitioning On Sidewalks Near Public Schools (10/22/2003)
NEW YORK - Acting on behalf of a youth advocacy group, the New York Civil Liberties Union today filed a lawsuit in federal court in Manhattan challenging a police department policy that prohibits groups and individuals from engaging in peaceful First Amendment activity -- including leafleting, petitioning, and picketing -- on public sidewalks in front of city schools.

ACLU Stands Up for Stand-Ups (10/07/2003)
BALTIMORE--The American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland today filed a lawsuit on behalf of a popular street performer who was banned from the city's Inner Harbor in October 2002 for making a joke deemed to be ""insensitive"" by Harborplace personnel.

ACLU Urges Miami Officials to Revise Unconstitutional Ordinance Aimed at Limiting Protest During Free Trade Meetings (09/24/2003)
MIAMI - Saying a proposed City of Miami protest ordinance that ""criminalizes objects instead of actions"" is an unconstitutional restraint on speech, the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida today sent a letter urging city officials to redraft the ordinance to comply with constitutional free speech protections.

Secret Service Ordered Local Police to Restrict Anti-Bush Protesters at Rallies, ACLU Charges in Unprecedented Nationwide Lawsuit (09/23/2003)
WASHINGTON - At events attended by President Bush and other senior federal officials around the country, the Secret Service has been discriminating against protesters in violation of their free speech rights, the American Civil Liberties Union charged today in the first nationwide lawsuit of its kind.

ACLU of Ohio Sues Parma Heights Officials for Attempting to Silence Critics During Memorial Day Parade (08/26/2003)
CLEVELAND - The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio today filed a federal lawsuit against officials in Parma Heights who threatened to arrest residents who were distributing leaflets critical of the Mayor and stopped a city councilman and his daughter from wearing shirts supporting his candidacy during a Memorial Day parade.

ACLU of Eastern Missouri Files Lawsuit to Protect Rights of Protesters During President's Visit (08/23/2003)
ST. LOUIS -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri today filed an emergency motion asking a federal court to allow protesters to peacefully demonstrate outside of the convention center where President George W. Bush is scheduled to address the American Legion.

Forty Dockworkers, Demonstrators, and Observers File Federal Lawsuit Over Injuries Sustained in Anti-War Protest at California Port (06/26/2003)
OAKLAND, CA -- The Oakland Police Department and the City of Oakland violated the constitutional rights of dozens of demonstrators, dockworkers, legal observers and others who were injured at a peaceful anti-war demonstration last April, according to a federal lawsuit filed today by the American Civil Liberties Union and a coalition of rights groups.

High Court Rejects Utah Church's Appeal in "Main Street" Case Over Ability to Restrict Free Speech in Public Area (06/23/2003)
SALT LAKE CITY - The American Civil Liberties Union today welcomed the Supreme Court's rejection of an appeal in a challenge to the Mormon Church's ability to restrict free speech rights in a public area of the city's Main Street Plaza here.

Two Middle Eastern Men Who Protested Biased Treatment at Michigan Store Have a Right to Speak Out, ACLU Tells Court (06/04/2003)
DETROIT - The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan today filed a friend-of-the-court brief on behalf of two Middle Eastern men who are fighting an attempt to block their distribution of fliers expressing concern about biased treatment they received at a Meijer's gas station in the city of Fraser.

ACLU Urges CA Attorney General to Stop State Monitoring of War Protestors and Other Political Dissenters (05/20/2003)
SAN FRANCISCO - The American Civil Liberties Union today called on Attorney General Bill Lockyer to direct a state anti-terrorism intelligence agency to stop compiling dossiers on political activists and organizations, including anti-war, animal rights, and environmental groups.

NYCLU Says NYPD's Handling of Protestors Needs Improvement in Time for Republican Convention (04/28/2003)
NEW YORK--Saying that law enforcement crowd control tactics should be improved in time for next year's Republican Convention here, the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) today called on city officials to implement quick reforms. The NYCLU's suggested changes were highlighted in a 40-page report, released today on the steps of City Hall.

ACLU of Louisiana Lawsuit Causes Repeal of Laws that Threatened Local Free Speech (04/21/2003)
NEW IBERIA, LA -- Reacting to a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana, city officials here have repealed a series of laws that violated the free speech rights of individuals seeking to protest on public property.

ACLU of Maryland Defends Right of Anti-War Group to Hold Weekly Vigils in Baltimore Harbor Area (04/10/2003)
BALTIMORE--Saying that laws here that govern public demonstrations may violate free speech rights, the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland today filed a lawsuit in federal district court on behalf of members of an anti-war group who assemble in the popular Inner Harbor area for weekly, silent vigils.

In Response to NYCLU Demand, Police Stop Interrogating Protesters About Political Activity (04/10/2003)
NEW YORK -- In response to a demand made by the New York Civil Liberties Union earlier this week, police officials have agreed to halt a recently implemented secret program of interrogating protesters about their political affiliations and prior demonstration activities, the NYCLU announced today.

ACLU of Northern California Seeks Answers to Police Attack on Non-Violent Protesters (04/09/2003)
OAKLAND, CA-The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California and representatives from civil rights groups today sent a letter to the chief of police here expressing "extreme concern" over yesterday's attack by law enforcement officers on non-violent anti-war protesters at the Port of Oakland.

ACLU of Northern California and Civil Rights Groups Say Proposed Resolution to Punish Peace Protesters is Illegal (04/01/2003)
SAN FRANCISCO--Saying that a proposed resolution by the City Board of Supervisors would "chill participation in expressive activity at a time when it is most needed," the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California and other groups today sent a letter condemning the resolution that seeks to recover protest-related expenses from local anti-war organizers.

ACLU Files Class-Action Lawsuit Challenging Unconstitutional Mass Arrest of Antiwar Demonstrators in Washington (03/27/2003)
WASHINGTON- In a lawsuit filed in federal court today, the American Civil Liberties Union of the National Capital Area charged police officials with deliberately violating the constitutional rights of more than 400 peaceful antiwar demonstrators and bystanders by directing them into a police trap and then arresting them although they had not violated the law.

Controversy Over Women at Augusta Golf Course Leads to ACLU Federal Lawsuit on Protest Rights (03/12/2003)
ATLANTA -- With the backdrop of the ongoing controversy over admitting women into Augusta National Golf Course, the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia today filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of the two civil rights organizations who are seeking to protest outside the golf course during the upcoming Masters Golf Tournament.

University of Maryland Students Seek to Overturn Free Speech Ban at College Park Campus (03/06/2003)
GREENBELT, MD-The American Civil Liberties Union and a private Washington law firm today filed a lawsuit on behalf of students at the University of Maryland at College Park who are challenging a university policy that places unreasonable restrictions on outdoor public speaking and leafleting on the university's 1,500-acre campus.

Florida Court Prohibits State from Blocking Protest Involving 'Living Nude Peace Symbol' (02/13/2003)
WEST PALM BEACH, FL -- In a court order issued late today, a U.S. District Court Judge here prohibited Florida officials from blocking an anti-war demonstration in a state park tomorrow that involves the creation of a peace symbol comprised of nude bodies.