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Home » ACLU Insider » Archives » April 2007 Archives
April 2007 Archives Congratulations Dave Weiman! April 30, 2007 Peoria ACLU chapter president Dave Weiman will receive the David Citron Award at the annual chapter dinner, which goes to a member of the ACLU, for his activism on many issues. He has been a leader in the Heartland Safe Schools Initiative, to expose and prevent the harassment and bullying endured by gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students in middle and high schools. A forum he helped organize attracted over 200 concerned citizens. read more » Want to know more about the Federal Abortion Ban? April 30, 2007 Check out this handy FAQ: Q1. What is this law about? A1. In late 2003, Congress passed and President Bush signed into law the "Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003," the first federal law that would ban abortions as early as 12 to 15 weeks in pregnancy. It would outlaw abortions that doctors say are safe and among the best for women's health in the second trimester. The law is so broad that it would prohibit a wide range of abortions performed in the second trimester. The law fails to safeguard women because it does not contain an exception to protect their health. This law is not about abortions performed late in pregnancy. Forty states and the District of Columbia already ban third-trimester abortions except when the life or health of the woman is at stake. The abortion ban's supporters have used misleading rhetoric to mask the fact that it bans safe and medically-appropriate abortions as early as 12 to 15 weeks and is part of a larger agenda to outlaw all abortions. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and many other medical organizations oppose the federal ban. read more » Is there Free Speech in School? April 26, 2007 A local high school student was arrested and charged with a misdemeanor for an essay he turned in as homework. The Chicago Tribune quotes ACLU of Illinois spokesman Ed Yohnka: "One of the elements is that some sort of disorder or disruption is created," said Ed Yohnka, a spokesman for the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois. "When something is done in private -- when a paper is handed in to a teacher -- there isn't a disruption." Yohnka also said that it was inevitable that schools would focus on potentially threatening writings in the aftermath of what happened at Virginia Tech, where a gunman killed 32 students and teachers, then fatally shot himself. "After so much attention was paid last week to what was written by the shooter at Virginia Tech, I think there is no question people will be paying more attention to things like this," he said.The discussion in the blogosphere continues: Chicago Crime Writers weigh in on the discussion. Anne at The Golden Pencil is also asking whether this was the right course of action. Pete blogs about the state of our schools. An unlikely ally on MySpace finds himself reacting strongly. What do you think? read more » Denying the Right to Choose April 19, 2007 Below is a great New York Times editorial about yesterday's Supreme Court ruling on the Federal Abortion Ban. The editorial is located online at http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/19/opinion/19thu1.html. Among the major flaws in yesterday's Supreme Court decision giving the federal government power to limit a woman's right to make decisions about her health was its fundamental dishonesty. Under the modest-sounding guise of following existing precedent, the majority opinion - written by Justice Anthony Kennedy and joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Clarence Thomas, Antonin Scalia and Samuel Alito - gutted a host of thoughtful lower federal court rulings, not to mention past Supreme Court rulings. read more » Road Trip for Fairness April 11, 2007 Take a Road Trip fairness! Join the ACLU of Illinois and other local activists for a Civil Union Lobby Day. Help make history in Illinois, help us win equal rights for all couples and families! Are you interested in helping to win Civil Unions for Illinois? Contact ACLU Legislative Director Mary Dixon at mdixon@aclu-il.org. Please invite friends and family to participate. We need everyone's support! read more » |
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