Home : Free Speech : Right to Protest

Berryville Revises Demonstration Ordinance Under Pressure from ACLU and VOP (04/15/2008)
Berryville, VA – Less than a month after the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia and the Virginia Organizing Project threatened to file a lawsuit, the Town Council of Berryville has repealed its old demonstration and parade ordinance and passed a new one.

Coalition Appeals City’s Incomplete “Conditional Alternative Permit” For RNC March (03/06/2008)
St. Paul, MN – Cooperating attorneys for the ACLU of Minnesota and the Minnesota Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild today filed an appeal to the St. Paul City Council on behalf of the Coalition to March on the RNC and Stop the War, challenging the conditions imposed by the City of St. Paul on the “Conditional Alternative Permit” that was granted to the Coalition earlier this week. The appeal challenges the failure of the City to grant the Coalition the permit that was requested due to the imposition of conditions on the permit which are not authorized by city ordinance. “The permit that we received is substantially different from the one that was requested, so we are asking the City Council to protect our constitutional rights,” said Coalition member Marie Braun. The “Conditional Alternative Permit” issued to the Coalition completely omitted any reference to important details such as a march route within sight and sound of the convention. “Tens of thousands of people will be coming from the Midwest and around the country to protest the illegal and immoral war against Iraq. We need these important details as soon as possible so we can work out the logistics of moving 50,000 people through the streets of St. Paul in a safe manner,” Braun added.

ACLU announces settlement of 4-year-old lawsuit over Colorado (03/05/2008)
The ACLU of Colorado announced today a settlement of a four-year-old legal battle over state regulations that apply to rallies, demonstrations, and other First Amendment activity on the West steps of the Capitol Building and nearby locations administered by the Colorado Department of Personnel and Administration (DPA).

ACLU Sues Law Enforcement for Shielding President Bush From Protestors (01/15/2008)
ALBUQUERQUE - The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of New Mexico filed a lawsuit in federal court today on behalf of several New Mexico residents and advocacy organizations who were made to stand more than 150 yards away from the site of a fundraiser being attended by the president as they peacefully protested the views of the administration, while a group of people expressing support for President Bush were allowed to stand only a few feet from the fundraiser site.

ACLU of North Carolina Asks North Carolina Judicial Standards Commission to Investigate Judge’s Decision to Close Courtroom in Blackwater Protesters’ Trial on Trespass Charges (01/09/2008)
RALEIGH – The American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina Legal Foundation (ACLU-NCLF) filed a complaint today with the North Carolina Judicial Standards Commission, asking the Commission to investigate a Currituck County district judge’s decision to clear the courtroom on December 5, 2007, during a criminal trial. The decision, made by Judge Edgar Barnes, came during the criminal trespass trial of seven individuals arrested in October 2007 after protesting on Blackwater USA’s property in Moyock. Based upon reports that the ACLU-NCLF received from several individuals who were present in the courtroom that day, including some of the defendants, several reporters and a concerned citizen, it appears that Judge Edgar Barnes held a significant portion of the trial behind closed doors, ordering sheriff’s deputies to clear the courtroom. Everyone, except the defendants, prosecutors, sheriff’s witnesses and a Blackwater official, was immediately barred from the trial. Reportedly, Judge Barnes did not give a reason for clearing the courtroom. Further, by all reports, there was no disruption on the part of the public attending the trial. Judge Barnes then proceeded to try the cases, finding all seven defendants guilty of trespassing.

ACLU Calls Government Settlement in Anti-Bush T-Shirt Case a Victory for Free Speech (08/16/2007)
CHARLESTON, WV – The American Civil Liberties Union today announced a successful resolution of the case of Jeffery and Nicole Rank, the young Texas couple arrested on the West Virginia capitol grounds on July 4, 2004 for peacefully expressing their opposition to President Bush. According to the settlement agreement, the United States government will pay the Ranks $80,000.

White House Policy Illegally Silences Americans Critical of Bush, ACLU Charges (06/28/2007)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today filed a federal lawsuit against a former high-level White House staffer for enacting a policy that unlawfully excluded individuals perceived to be critical of the administration from public events where President Bush was present. The policy is laid out in an October 2002 "Presidential Advance Manual" obtained by the ACLU.

City of Fort Lauderdale Settles After Unconstitutional Ordinance Banning Free Speech is Struck Down (05/16/2007)
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida's Broward Chapter welcomed Federal Judge K. Michael Moore's ruling in favor of the ACLU and other coalition partners on Fort Lauderdale's unconstitutional ordinance that attempted to stifle free speech. The May 14, 2007 order, which grants the parties settlement, follows an order directing the City to no longer enforce the ordinance.

New NYPD Documents Show Broad Surveillance of Peaceful Political Activity Before Republican National Convention (05/16/2007)
NEW YORK - The New York Civil Liberties Union today published, at a press conference and on its website, approximately 600 pages of NYPD intelligence documents that detail a major-and often unlawful-police surveillance operation of political activity preceding the Republican National Convention in 2004.

Santa Barbara Police Agree to Protect Protestors’ Rights (04/05/2007)
LOS ANGELES – Michael Tocher was a peaceful man with a megaphone and a message of protest when Santa Barbara police arrested him on Veterans Day in 2004. Today the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California announced a settlement of its lawsuit against the city over his wrongful arrest.

ACLU of New Jersey Successfully Defends Free Speech for Peace Activist (03/20/2007)
NEWARK - A New Jersey Superior Court judge today dismissed charges against Bob Flisser, who was arrested in Flemington for participating in a public vigil for fallen soldiers without obtaining a permit. The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, representing Flisser, argued that Flemington's "parade" permit ordinance violated numerous free speech protections and was applied discriminatorily. Flemington officials agreed to the dismissal.

City Cannot Block Release of NYPD Materials from Republican National Convention, Federal Court Rules (01/22/2007)
NEW YORK - A federal judge today rejected the city's attempt to block the New York Civil Liberties Union from making public extensive information on the mass arrests and detentions that occurred during the 2004 Republic National Convention.

ACLU of New Mexico Defends Homeowners After Neighborhood Association Attempts to Censor “Impeach Bush” Sign (12/05/2006)
RIO RANCHO, NM - The American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico announced today that it would take legal action against a Rio Rancho homeowners’ association if it made good on a threat to fine a local couple for projecting a sign that said “Impeach Bush” on the side of their home

ACLU Plans Appeal on Behalf of New Jersey Peace Vigil Organizer (11/27/2006)
FLEMINGTON, N.J. - The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey announced that it will appeal the decision of Flemington Municipal Court Judge John Petronko Jr., who earlier today found peace advocate Robert Flisser guilty for organizing a “Fallen Solder Vigil” without a permit on August 17, 2005. The ACLU and Flisser contend that Flemington’s permit requirements violate freedom of speech and are applied discriminatorily.

ACLU Hosts Shut Up & Sing Screening in Houston (11/15/2006)
HOUSTON -- The American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Texas and The Weinstein Company will present a special preview screening of the new Dixie Chicks documentary Shut Up & Sing on Thursday, November 16 at 7:00 p.m. at the Landmark Theatre, 5 Greenway Plaza in Houston.

Federal Appeals Court to Hear Arguments Over Free Speech Rights of Maine Anti-War and Labor Activists (11/03/2006)
PORTLAND, ME -- On Monday in Boston the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit will hear arguments about the constitutionality of Augusta's free speech restrictions. The Maine Civil Liberties Union successfully challenged the city's Parade Ordinance and Mass Outdoor Gathering Ordinance, resulting in a December 2005 decision striking down Augusta's restrictions as unconstitutional.

ACLU of Louisiana Files Lawsuit to Protect Free Speech Rights of Christian Protestor (10/27/2006)
NATCHITOCHES, LA -- Today the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana filed a lawsuit on behalf of a lone protestor who was denied his free expression rights by the city of Natchitoches. Edwin Crayton, a devout Christian, sought to stand in front of Wal-Mart in Natchitoches with a sign protesting the corporation’s alleged position on gay marriage.

Arkansas Students Can Wear Armbands as Form of Protest, Federal Judge Rules (10/19/2006)
PINE BLUFF, AR -- In a victory for students’ free speech rights, federal Judge Leon Holmes ruled that students may wear black armbands to protest the restrictive uniform policy imposed by the Watson Chapel School District. The decision comes in a lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas charging that the school district violated the Constitution by suspending and punishing students who wore the armbands to school during a day of protest.

Arkansas Students Wrongly Punished for Wearing Armbands to School, According to ACLU Lawsuit (10/10/2006)
LITTLE ROCK, AR -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas today filed a federal lawsuit charging that the Watson Chapel school district violated students’ free speech rights by suspending students for wearing black armbands in opposition to the school uniform policy.

ACLU Files Lawsuit Charging Asheville, NC Violates Right to Stage Peaceful Demonstrations (10/04/2006)
ASHEVILLE, NC -- The American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina filed a federal lawsuit today on behalf of an immigration reform group that was charged exorbitant, unnecessary fees for a permit to hold a peaceful march in Asheville on May 1, 2006.