ACLU Holds Premiere for "Unconstitutional," You Can Get Your Own Copy
ACLU Defends Web Host and Others Sought Through Grand Jury Subpoena
Real People Say "It's American" to Protect Our Rights
Federal Abortion Ban Struck Down
Take Action: Oppose the Flag Amendment
Dispatches from Guantánamo Bay
In The States:
ACLU of Wisconsin Defends Man Accused of Acting as "Human Shield"
Anti-Bush Bumper Sticker Attracts Notice from Secret Service
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DISPATCHES FROM GUANTÁNAMO BAY
ACLU Executive Director Anthony D. Romero spent a week in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, observing the first preliminary hearings taking place at the Naval Base.
You can read Anthony's observations online.
ACLU OF WISCONSIN DEFENDS MAN ACCUSED OF ACTING AS A "HUMAN SHIELD"
The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin filed papers in defense of peace activist and Milwaukee-area businessman Ryan Clancy contesting the imposition of a $10,000 fine by the federal Office of Foreign Assets Control because Clancy allegedly traveled to Iraq to act as a "human shield."
"This fine clearly isn't about controlling 'foreign assets.' It's about suppressing the freedom of patriotic Americans to travel and learn for themselves what is going on in countries like Iraq and then punishing those who have the courage to question the government's version of events upon their return."
For the complete story click here.
ANTI-BUSH BUMPER STICKER ATTRACTS NOTICE FROM SECRET SERVICE
Nineteen-year-old Derek Kjar was visited by agents from the Secret Service after neighbors alerted them about Kjar's "potentially threatening" anti-Bush bumper sticker. The sticker in question depicts George Bush with a crown and the phrase "King George – Off with his head."
"I didn't know what the hell was going on," Kjar said. "It made me so nervous. I kind of feel trapped, like I'm not allowed to express my opinions. I felt like my freedom of speech was shot to hell right there."
Dani Eyer, director of the Utah American Civil Liberties Union, told reporters that such investigations can create a "chilling effect" on political speech. She also pointed out specific examples where the courts have protected political exaggeration under freedom of speech.
Read the complete article in the Salt Lake Tribune.
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September
9, 2004
ACLU and it's affiliates host screenings of new film.
The ACLU and its affiliates will host screenings of acclaimed filmmaker Robert Greenwald's latest groundbreaking documentary "Unconstitutional" in more than 25 states. These screenings will include a world premiere on September 13 at the University of Texas at Austin and a September 14 screening at Lincoln Center's Walter Reade Theater in New York. "Unconstitutional," which was written, directed and produced by Nonny de la Peña, explores how the Patriot Act has taken away checks on law enforcement and continues to endanger the civil liberties of everyone across America.
"We created 'Unconstitutional' to show Americans the extent to which our civil liberties and our freedoms have been trampled upon by our government since 9/11," said Greenwald, the film's executive producer. "The more Americans understand what is at stake, and what has already been lost, the more determined we become to protect our rights."
As a special offer from the ACLU, you have the chance to get your own copy of "Unconstitutional" before it opens in theaters later this month by contributing $40 or more today. Your contribution not only helps our grassroots effort to promote this film, it also guarantees we have the financial resources to fight the anti-liberties provisions of the USA Patriot Act and other unconstitutional measures taken by the government since 9/11.
Order your own advance copy of "Unconstitutional."
See a complete list of screenings or view a trailer of the film.
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 Calyx Internet Access, a web hosting service, and the administrators of an independent media website, Indymedia.org, regarding the anonymous posting of publicly available information about delegates to the Republican National Convention.
"This type of investigation is really a form of intimidation and a message to activists that they will pay a price for speaking out," said ACLU Associate Legal Director Ann Beeson. "The posting of publicly available information about people who are in the news should not trigger an investigation."
Beeson added that the posting did not include anything remotely threatening, but involved political speech fully protected by the First Amendment.
The groups said the investigation is but the latest example of government agencies using law enforcement powers to chill free speech and intimidate protesters.
Get more info here.
 In a new national television advertisement, the American Civil Liberties Union has recruited a diverse group of ordinary Americans - none of them actors - to express support for curbs on extreme portions of the Patriot Act due to "sunset" in 2005.
"Who better to explain how the Patriot Act affects ordinary Americans than ordinary Americans themselves," said ACLU President Nadine Strossen. "Once people understand that this law is allowing the government to investigate innocent Americans not connected to terrorism, they understand the need to scale back the more extreme provisions."
The 30-second spot, which began airing Monday on three national cable news networks, features 21 men and women questioning whether certain controversial portions of the Patriot Act should be made permanent instead of expiring in December 2005 in accordance with a "sunset" provision.
To read the complete article and view the ad follow this link.
The American Civil Liberties Union and the National Abortion Federation (NAF) praised a ruling by a federal court judge in Nebraska striking down the "Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003." The decision marked the third time the sweeping ban was permanently enjoined.
Last month, a federal district judge in New York struck down the federal abortion ban in a challenge brought by NAF and seven individual physicians, represented by the ACLU and Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP (NAF v. Ashcroft). In June, a federal district judge in San Francisco struck down the federal abortion ban in a challenge brought by the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (Planned Parenthood v. Ashcroft).
"Today's decision, along with the two that preceded it, make clear that in passing this far-reaching ban on second-trimester abortions, Congress and the president willingly gambled with the Constitution and with women's health," said Louise Melling, Director of the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project. "How many more court decisions will it take for them to stop placing their political agenda above the health care needs of American women?"
Find more information here.
With several Senators absent, the Republican Senate leadership is planning to slip in a vote on the flag desecration amendment - a measure that would not otherwise pass. But due to these absences, this proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution -- which has already passed in the House -- has a real chance of passing in the Senate. The Senate vote will be extremely close and we need you to tell your Senators to oppose this dangerous amendment.
Click here to take action now!
Policy
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