Home : Free Speech : Right to Protest

ACLU of Ohio Challenges Town's Limits on Display of Political Yard Signs (08/08/2001)
CLEVELAND--The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio today filed a lawsuit in federal court in Cincinnati challenging the limits placed on the display of election signs by the city of Fairfield in Butler County.

Federal Judge Orders NYPD to Reinstate Officer Fired for Public Statements about Street Crime Unit (07/25/2001)
NEW YORK--At the request of the New York Civil Liberties Union, a federal court today ordered the NYPD to reinstate police officer Yvette Walton, who was fired in April 1999 after she spoke publicly about misconduct by the NYPD's Street Crime Unit. 

NYCLU Files Lawsuit Challenging Huge Permit Fees For Activist Group Events in City Parks (07/18/2001)
NEW YORK--A new scheme authorizing the Parks Department to charge upwards of $100,000 to groups wishing to stage advocacy events in city parks violates the First Amendment, the New York Civil Liberties Union charged in a federal lawsuit filed today. 

Bowing to NYCLU Lawsuit, NYPD Agrees to Stop Jailing Protestors (07/12/2001)
NEW YORK--In a victory for the First Amendment right to protest, the New York City Police Department today agreed to rescind its policy of jailing people who commit minor offenses at protests and demonstrations.

California Community Group Wins Right to Engage in Free Speech Activities on July 4 (07/03/2001)
LOS ANGELES - People for Community Empowerment, a coalition organizing around energy and other community issues, will be able to go ahead with a rally and parade starting at El Dorado Park in Long Beach on July 4, after winning a temporary restraining order yesterday against the City of Long Beach. 

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: ACLU of San Diego Looks at Rights of Protesters During Weeklong Biotech Conference (06/27/2001)
SAN DIEGO--The ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties today issued an initial assessment of how civil liberties fared during the demonstrations and other activities associated with this week's conference of the biotechnology industry. 

Navy Violated Free Speech Rights of Vieques Protesters, ACLU Charges in Lawsuit (06/18/2001)
SAN JUAN, PR--The American Civil Liberties Union today filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of peaceful crowds protesting the United States Navy's bombing exercises on Vieques Island who were repeatedly assaulted with tear gas and rubber bullets by Naval personnel in riot gear.

NYCLU Files Federal Lawsuit Challenging New York's Policy of Jailing Protesters (05/30/2001)
NEW YORK--The New York Civil Liberties Union today filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging the police department's policy of jailing people who commit minor offenses at protests and demonstrations. 

ACLU and Animal Rights Group Challenge NJ Shore Town's Ban on Boardwalk Leafleting (05/30/2001)
TRENTON, NJ--Acting on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (""PETA""), the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey today filed a lawsuit challenging a town's ban on the distribution of leaflets and other printed matter. 

ACLU Condemns the Suspension of Senators From Puerto Rico Legislature (05/10/2001)
SAN JUAN, PR -- The American Civil Liberties Union's Puerto Rico chapter today criticized the decision by the Puerto Rico Senate's majority to suspend five of its senators for openly criticizing the majority's legislative strategy in regards to Veiques Island.

ACLU Sues Seattle Police for Withholding Key WTO Document (05/10/2001)
SEATTLE -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Washington today filed a lawsuit against the Seattle Police Department for failing to disclose a key document relating to police enforcement of the City's "no protest zone" during the World Trade Organization demonstrations in 1999.

City to Repeal "Get a License to Talk" Law, Court Approves Final Settlement of ACLU Lawsuit (05/08/2001)
SEATTLE, WA -- A U.S. District Court judge today permanently barred the enforcement of a City of Medina law that required people to apply for a license from town officials and submit to a criminal background check before exercising their free speech rights. 

ACLU of Puerto Rico Criticizes Government Treatment of Veiques Protestors (05/07/2001)
SAN JUAN, PR -- The American Civil Liberties Union's Puerto Rico chapter today severely criticized the federal government's multiple violations of the civil liberties of demonstrators protesting the U.S. Navy's bombing exercises on Veiques island. 

ACLU, Hawai'i Officials Reach Agreement to Allow Asian Development Bank Protests to Continue (05/02/2001)
HONOLULU - The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai'i and local officials reached an agreement in federal court today that will allow protesters to use a portion of the promenade behind the Hawai'i Convention Center to demonstrate during the Asian Development Bank (ADB) meetings next week. 

ACLU Sues for Free Speech In Atlanta's Centennial Olympic Park (04/19/2001)
ATLANTA - The American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia filed a lawsuit today on behalf of local activists whose attempts to hold demonstrations in Atlanta's Centennial Olympic Park have been thwarted by city officials. The ACLU is seeking an order preventing the enforcement of criminal regulations that limit free speech and assembly in the park. 

Federal Court Rules that University of Illinois Violated Free Speech Rights in Mascot Controversy (04/05/2001)
PEORIA, IL--A federal judge here ruled today that the University of Illinois violated the free speech rights of students and faculty when it attempted to block their statements about the school's controversial use of Native American Chief Illiniwek as a mascot. 

ACLU Wins Dismissal of Landlord's Retaliatory Lawsuit Against Los Angeles Tenant Activists (02/26/2001)
LOS ANGELES--A judge today dismissed a lawsuit against a local tenants' association and its members, who were being sued by the owner of an apartment complex in retaliation for their advocacy on behalf of the low-income tenants, the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California announced today. 

Last-Minute ACLU Appeal Allows Cuban Activist To Take his Message to the Skies (02/24/2001)
MIAMI, FL--Responding to a last-minute appeal by the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, a federal appeals court today lifted a gag order preventing an exiled Cuban activist from making a memorial flight to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the Cuban military shoot-down of two civilian planes flying over the Florida straits.

NYCLU Defends African-American Man Jailed for Writing Letter Critical of Public Official (02/21/2001)
NEW YORK--The New York Civil Liberties Union today announced that it will file a federal lawsuit on behalf of Terence Hunter, an African-American resident of Staten Island who was arrested and held overnight in a cell last month for writing a letter critical of Staten Island Borough President Guy Molinari.

ACLU of Rhode Island Will Defend Parent Threatened with Lawsuit by School Superintendents (02/16/2001)
PROVIDENCE, R.I.--The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island today announced that it will represent North Smithfield parent Georgeanne Bourgeois, who was threatened with a lawsuit by a school superintendent for comments she made about him in an e-mail message to other parents.