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ACLU Federal Lawsuit Gets Green Light From 11th Circuit (02/23/2009)
MIAMI – The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the ACLU of Florida today, finding that a 2006 lawsuit filed on behalf of Amnesty International "properly states a valid claim alleging a violation of its First Amendment rights."

House Hears Testimony On International Free Speech Issue (02/12/2009)
WASHINGTON – The ACLU called on Congress today to take steps to prevent foreign countries from restricting the free speech rights of Americans inside the U.S. The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law heard testimony from a panel of experts on a phenomenon called “libel tourism.”

ACLU/SC and Big Bear School District Agree on Measures to Protect Students' Right to Free Speech (02/10/2009)
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California and the Bear Valley Unified School District announced today that they will enter into a settlement that will protect students' right to free speech.

White House Announces Troubling Faith-Based Order, ACLU Says Administration Is Heading Into Uncharted Waters (02/05/2009)
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama announced today that he is taking the unprecedented and troubling step of forming a federal advisory committee to be made up mostly of religious leaders. Also of great concern, President Obama will increase federal funds going to religious organizations without first changing the Bush-era rules allowing federally-funded religious organizations to apply religious hiring tests to employees.

First Amendment Organizations Offer Support to Gloucester Residents Sanctioned for Attempting to Remove Elected Officials (01/30/2009)
Gloucester, VA - The ACLU of Virginia has informed a group of 40 Gloucester citizens that it will file a friend-of-the-court brief arguing that a Gloucester Circuit Court judge erred when he ordered members of the group to pay $80,000 in legal fees after they failed in an attempt to remove four members of the Board of Supervisors from office.

ACLU Enters Federal Lawsuit To Protect Right To Controversial Speech (01/23/2009)
Yesterday the ACLU of Louisiana enrolled in a lawsuit filed by Johnny Duncan, aka "Johnny UnBlackWorthy," a veteran and resident of Amite who was detained by police because they objected to a sign on his car reading "You Might be a Nigger!." Mr. Duncan, himself an African-American, is the author of a book of political and social commentary entitled "You Might be a Nigger!," and the sign on his car was to advertise the book.

Supreme Court Refuses To Revive Online Censorship Law (01/21/2009)
WASHINGTON – In a clear victory for free speech, the Supreme Court has announced that it will not hear the government's appeal of a ban on the Child Online Protection Act (COPA), the federal law that would criminalize constitutionally protected speech on the Internet.

Presidential Memorandum Lets Sun Shine On Government Secrecy (01/21/2009)
WASHINGTON – In a move intended to improve government transparency and accountability, the Obama administration today released a presidential memorandum directing government agencies to comply swiftly and thoroughly with Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.

Unconstitutional Secrecy Provisions Hide Iraq War Costs And Public Safety Information From The Public (01/15/2009)
NEW YORK – The overreaching secrecy provisions of a whistleblower law prevent the public from learning about serious allegations of fraud against the United States government, according to a complaint filed today by the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Virginia on behalf of themselves, the Government Accountability Project (GAP) and OMB Watch. Complaints filed under the False Claims Act (FCA) are automatically filed under seal and those who file them are gagged from speaking about them, keeping the complaints secret from the public for months or even years.

Attorney General Nominee Reveals Stance On Major Civil Liberties Issues (01/15/2009)
WASHINGTON – Today, during the first of two confirmation hearings, Attorney General-nominee Eric Holder was questioned on several issues that are relevant to ACLU’s legislative agenda for restoring meaningful checks on executive authority and preserving individual rights.

Schools Must Allow Talk About Obama's Inauguration, Says ACLU (01/14/2009)
Today the ACLU of Louisiana released a letter to the Superintendents of all school districts in Louisiana, reminding them to respect the rights of students and school personnel to discuss issues surrounding the inauguration of Barack Obama on January 20. The letter was prompted by reports of students being punished after Election Day for discussion of the election and its outcome.

ACLU Tells Richmond Officials to Drop Proposal Prohibiting Panhandling of Vehicle Occupants (01/13/2009)
Richmond, VA -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia today asked the Public Safety Committee of Richmond City Council to abandon attempts to pass an ordinance that would prohibit panhandlers on sidewalks or curbs from soliciting vehicle occupants.