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Home » ACLU Insider » Archives » May 2008 Archives
May 2008 Archives Online Sign-Up for National Member Conference Ends June 2nd May 30, 2008
Judge Extends Moment of Silence Ban to all Illinois schools May 30, 2008 Yesterday U.S. District Judge Robert W. Gettleman issued an order ending a mandated "moment of silence" in public schools around Illinois. The "Silent Reflection and Student Prayer Act", passed by the Illinois general assembly over a veto by Governor Rod Blagovich, went into effect last October. read more » Thanks -- Great Response to Event on the Death Penalty May 29, 2008 We want to thank the more than 250 ACLU members and supporters from throughout the Chicagoland area who joined us last night at Northwestern Law School for the special screening of At the Death House Door, a new documentary film focusing on the death penalty. read more » ACLU national blog torture symposium May 29, 2008  ACLU national has launched it's new blog, the Blog of Rights with a symposium on torture featuring some blogging and legal superstars this week. read more » NY to recognize same sex marriages from other states May 29, 2008 NY Governor David Paterson issued an order via his legal counsel, David Nocentito, charging state agencies to recognize same sex unions performed in other states (and abroad) in the same fashion as other marriages. Governor Paterson's order, given on May 14th, preceeded the California Supreme Court's decision to end the denial of marriage rights to LGBT couples in California. read more » California Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Marriage Equality for Gay & Lesbian Couples! May 15, 2008 The California Supreme Court's decision is available here. The California Supreme Court has ruled that it is unconstitutional under the California constitution for the state to continue to bar lesbian and gay couples from getting married. The decision was decided by the California courts based on the California constitution. While we believe that the rest of the country will ultimately follow California's lead, this decision is not binding on our courts. Nonetheless - it is enormously exciting. One more state has recognized that marriage is a fundamental right - a right that ought not be denied based on the gender of the individuals involved. We'll have more commentary on the details of the decision soon. Update: ACLU National is posting the details on their website. Update 2: The ruling should go into effect in 30 days (so, June 14th). Anti groups are asking for a stay until after the November election. read more » All Eyes On California May 15, 2008 The California Supreme Court is due to hand down it's ruling on marriage equality today. In 15 minutes. Everyone is waiting anxiously for the news. The ACLU is co-counsel in this case along with Lambda Legal and the National Center for Lesbian Rights. Either way - there's a anti-gay marriage amendment due for the California ballot in November. Whatever, the Supreme Court decides - the voters will likely be looking at the question again in a few months. California is in for a collossal battle. Our thoughts go out to the ACLU affiliates there, and the good folks at Let California Ring and Equality California. read more » ACLU Obtains Defense Department Documents About Prisoner Deaths And Interrogations May 14, 2008 From ACLU National: NEW YORK - The American Civil Liberties Union has obtained previously withheld documents from the Defense Department, including internal investigations into the abuse of detainees in U.S. custody overseas. Uncensored documents released as a result of the ACLU's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit shed light on the deaths of detainees in Iraq and internal disagreement within the military over harsh interrogation practices used at Guantánamo Bay.read more » Drugging Deportees: 5th Amendment need not apply May 14, 2008 New reports from the Washington Post indicate the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), an agency of the Department of Homeland Security, has been forcing anti-psychotic drugs into detainees it seeks to deport - simply for the purpose of "chemically restraining" them during transport: The U.S. government has injected hundreds of foreigners it has deported with dangerous psychotropic drugs against their will to keep them sedated during the trip back to their home country, according to medical records, internal documents and interviews with people who have been drugged.read more » Act Now: Tell Congress NO backroom deals on telecom immunity May 13, 2008 From ACLU National: Late Friday night, the ACLU caught wind of a dangerous backroom deal brewing. The "deal" would rush a House vote that would push through a dangerous sellout on government spying powers, possibly in the next few days. We need you to immediately contact your member of Congress. Let your representative know you're watching and expect him or her to stand firm. That means no immunity for lawbreaking phone and internet companies, and no spying on Americans without a warrant. Contact your US Representative today and let them know - NO warrantless wiretapping and NO telecom immunity. We did it before - Congress heard us loud and clear last time. Now they need a reminder. The Capitol Hill switchboard is (202)224-3121. Don't allow this dangerous legislation to move forward! read more » Executive Director Colleen Connell wins Ruth Goldman award May 13, 2008 The ACLU of Illinois' Executive Director Colleen Connell is being honored by the American Constitution Society at their "Legal Legends Luncheon". Colleen is the first recipient of the Ruth Goldman award. We are so proud of Colleen and her lifelong dedication to upholding the Constitution and civil liberties for all Americans. You can get tickets for the event by going to the ACS website. Congratulations Colleen! read more » Case in Point: Torture & Spying May 13, 2008 As though to provide further evidence for yesterday's post, the AP reports that the Pentagon has dropped charges against Mohammed al-Qahtani, formerly accused of being the "20th hijacker" for the attacks of 9/11. Despite having held this man for 6 and half years (he was captured in Afghanistan in December 2001), accused him of the gravest crimes, tortured him and "lost" the records of his detainment, the government now will not be trying him. read more » Spying on Americans May 12, 2008 In theory, the unprecedented surveillance of the the American public by the Bush Administration is justified by the idea that it will make us safer. We swap our private phone calls, our biometric data, even our bodily integrity for the notion that the government will thereby be able to find and prosecute terrorists, and protect us from harm. read more » Join us at the 2008 ACLU National Member Conference - June 8-10 in DC! May 06, 2008 Throw the kids in the station wagon & find your pocket Constitutions, it's time to take the Capitol by storm! Join Ed Yohnka (Communications Director) and Allie Carter (Senior Field Manager) on the Illinois delegation to the ACLU's 2008 National Member Conference! 
June 8 - 10, 2008 Washington Convention Center 801 Mount Vernon Place NW Washington, D.C. 20001 read more » High School Students Outed to 'Prevent PDA' May 02, 2008 The ACLU of Tennessee is representing two high school students outed by their high school principal. According to 365gay.com: A public high school principal who posted the names of two boys on a list of students believed to be couples, revealing their relationship to their parents as well as other students and teachers, violated the students' constitutional right to freedom of association, the American Civil Liberties Union charged Tuesday.read more » |
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