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Home » ACLU Insider » Archives » August 2007 Archives
August 2007 Archives From the Washington Post: "Terror Suspect List Yields Few Arrests" August 28, 2007 
"The government's terrorist screening database flagged Americans and foreigners as suspected terrorists almost 20,000 times last year. But only a small fraction of those questioned were arrested or denied entry into the United States, raising concerns among critics about privacy and the list's effectiveness. The government's system casts too broad a net, and its definition of who should be watch-listed is too broad, said Harvey Grossman, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, which has filed a class-action lawsuit against the government on behalf of 10 Muslim Americans who allege they were detained and mistreated after being placed on a watch list without grounds. People with only distant casual contact with a suspect might be listed, he said. "What you eventually get is a worthless list of people." " Read more online at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/24/AR2007082402256.html. read more » From the Chicago Tribune: 5 disabled nursing home patients sue state over care August 23, 2007 
Five people with disabilities living in nursing homes across Cook County sued the state Wednesday, claiming Illinois is violating federal law by not providing adequate resources for them to live in their communities instead of institutions. The suit is backed by disability-rights organizations Access Living and Equip For Equality, as well as the American Civil Liberties Union. read more » ACLU Charges TSA Official and JetBlue With Racial Profiling August 15, 2007 Learn more: http://www.aclu.org/freespeech/gen/jarrar.html. read more » From the Chicago Tribune: Outside administrator takes over juvenile center August 15, 2007 An outside administrator with broad powers took over the troubled Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center on Tuesday and predicted it would take at least two years to fix the problems there. U.S. District Judge John Nordberg's appointment of Earl Dunlap, a recognized national expert in juvenile justice, was the result of negotiations between the county and the American Civil Liberties Union, which had sought to have a receiver take complete control of the center. read more » Finding a Creative Outlet in Detention August 08, 2007 Some of the girls at the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center have written, performed and edited poems, stories and songs that you can listen to online. read more » From Chicago Tribune's Editorial Page: Extra! Cook County hires a pro August 06, 2007 After making one stunningly boneheaded move after another, creating a disaster at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center, county commissioners this week did something amazing. They got it right. The board agreed to hire a nationally respected juvenile justice expert named Earl Dunlap to turn around the detention center. They resisted the usual impulse to hire a politically connected flunky, a golfing buddy or one of their nephews. read more » From USA Today: Immigration proposals divide Illinois village August 06, 2007 The promise of a better life drew Carlos Delgado to this small suburban Chicago community along the banks of the Fox River. Here, housing was affordable, jobs available and thousands of other Mexican immigrants made him feel at home. Ten years later, the 31-year-old construction worker no longer feels welcome - even though more than 40% of Carpentersville's 37,000 residents are Hispanic. read more » From the Chicago Defender: Teens press for changes at Audi Home August 03, 2007 The youth said the demonstration was about garnering respect and dignity for the children for youngsters detained at the county’s temporary juvenile detention center. The emphasize their point, the youth presented Stroger a box of girls and boys underwear. The rally was intended to get community pressure on Stroger and the county’s board to make the necessary changes to the Cook County Temporary Juvenile Detention Center, commonly known as the Audi Home. read more » From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Alorton sign is fine by town — but maybe not by ACLU August 03, 2007 The churches seem to turn up here often and randomly. In this town of 3,000 residents, there are at least 15 churches. Maybe 20. They're featured prominently on business street corners. They're also tucked away - hidden almost - on residential blocks. So you don't need to travel far to find the good Lord, as they say. In fact, visitors can't drive into town without a holy hello. "Welcome to The Village of Alorton," say two green-and-white billboards with lights shining on them. "Where Jesus is Lord. Randy McCallum Mayor." By all accounts, the longtime, city-owned signs have never seemed to stir anyone. As it turns out, though, they could be a problem. Attorneys with the Illinois office of the American Civil Liberties Union, the national civil rights group, said the signs might be unconstitutional. read more » From Chicago Sun Times: Teens' protest demands changes at juvy center August 01, 2007 The two girls shyly walked through the large glass doors of Todd Stroger's office carrying a box, its flaps open to reveal the contents -- bright pink and green girls' underwear decorated with butterflies and flowers. Beneath those, checkered boxers for boys. Confused staff at the desk glanced at the box and asked if the girls were making a donation. "It's for the kids,'' they said quietly as more staff came charging out of a side office demanding the media following the girls get out. read more » |
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