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Home » ACLU Insider » Archives » July 2007 Archives
July 2007 Archives Bughouse Square Debates July 31, 2007 The Bughouse Square Debates are an annual event celebrating of Bughouse Square as it was one of the most celebrated outdoor free-speech centers in the United States. The declared winner of the Dil Pickle Award was Ed Yohnka of the Illinois chapter of the ACLU for his speech "Why Defend the Offensive? The Importance of Free Speech." In defending the right of the Westboro (KS) Baptist Church to stage funeral protests, Yohnka drew the scorn of a few participants. He let them have their turn at the microphone, kept his composure, and seemingly won the argument. Read more: http://fanningtheflames.blogspot.com/2007/07/bughouse-square-debates.html. read more » From The Southern: Report Points to Racial Profiling in Illinois July 23, 2007 A state report showing that minority drivers were three times more likely than Caucasian drivers to have their vehicle searched was released this week, prompting the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois to urge state officials to ban consent searches. read more » From the Windy City Times: "Parental Notification Law Being Considered in Illinois" July 19, 2007 Currently restrictions on abortion rights for minors in the state of Illinois are being considered as the American Civil Liberties Union ( ACLU ) takes on the Illinois Attorney General’s office over the 1995 Parental Notification Act. The Parental Notification Act requires that women under 18 notify a parent or other guardian within 48 hours prior to obtaining an abortion. Women who feel their health or safety would be at risk by notifying a parent or guardian can attempt to bypass the requirement by appearing in court and explaining their situation to a judge. read more » From the Chicago Tribune: "Oak Park trustees back same-sex civil unions in Illinois" July 18, 2007 With a unanimous vote by the Village Board on a resolution this week, Oak Park became the first municipality to support pending legislation that would establish civil unions for same-sex couples in Illinois. House Bill 1826, known as the Religious Freedom and Civil Unions Act, would establish civil unions for same-sex couples, allowing them access to pension and insurance benefits, inheritance rights and to have legal standing to make medical decisions for their partner. read more » Guantanamo and Due Process (Podcast) July 12, 2007 The podcast from Lowell Sachnoff's presentation on his work with Guantanamo detainees is now available online at http://www.aclu-il.org/podcasts/. A pdf with more information is also available at http://www.aclu-il.org/blog/sachnoff.pdf. read more » From the Chicago Sun-Time: "Outsider to run juvy center?" July 12, 2007 Cook County officials are negotiating to bring in a well-respected outsider to take control of hiring, firing and budgets at the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center, which has been plagued by allegations of child abuse, unsanitary conditions and patronage. read more » Day of Action July 11, 2007 Thank you to all the ACLU of Illinois members who traveled to Washington, D.C. for the Day of Action. Your efforts to lobby our Representatives from Illinois are greatly appreciated. Pictures from Thomas G.:  
Read about ACLU of Illinois members' experiences at the Day of Action on June 26, 2007: Read about Janice G.read more » EFF Receives FOIA Documents on the FBI's Misuse of National Security Letter Authority July 11, 2007 EFF has obtained FBI documents showing years of chronic problems with its use of National Security Letters (NSLs). Read more at http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/archives/005349.php. read more » Guantanamo and Due Process July 09, 2007 Last year Lowell Sachnoff began working with the Center for Constitutional Rights representing prisoners at Guantanamo, and recently spent a week there, interviewing his clients and working for their release. Download a pdf of Mr. Sachnoff's presentation about his work in Guantanamo. A podcast of Mr. Sachnoff's presentation will be available later this week. read more » From the Chicago Sun-Times: C'ville trustee consults D.C. firm on immigration plan July 09, 2007 Village Trustee Paul Humpfer said he is talking with a national law firm advocating tougher immigration laws in an effort to possibly tweak the controversial Illegal Alien Immigration Relief Ordinance proposal that he and Trustee Judith Sigwalt put forward last year. Ed Yohnka of the ACLU of Illinois said the changes don't address what he considers the main point of the lawsuits -- that federal law trumps local immigration ordinances. read more » From Chicago Sun Times: New campaign vs. torture, Coalition seeks protections against police brutality July 09, 2007 On Tuesday at the Cook County Board, Commissioner Earlean Collins will bring to the floor four resolutions, including recommendations that the U.S. attorney prosecute Jon Burge and other police torturers and that the state Legislature pass laws that criminalize torture with no statute of limitations. Committee hearings last month have created enough public support for commissioners to pass these resolutions. read more » |
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