In these times of quick fixes to all problems no matter how large, there are few organizations that have the staying power of the ACLU to defend the civil rights of the most vulnerable.
ACLU amends challenge to eavesdropping law
November 19, 2010 5:52 pm | By Adam Schwartz, Senior Staff Counsel
In August 2010, the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois filed a lawsuit arguing that civilians have a right protected by the First Amendment to make audio recordings of on-duty... Continue reading
Airport Body Scanners: ‘Stupid and Punitive,’ the ACLU’s Colleen Connell discovers
November 16, 2010 4:44 pm | Posted by Ofelia Casillas
Colleen Connell, executive director of the ACLU of Illinois, was catching a flight a few months ago out of O’Hare when she experienced one of the airport’s new body scanners.... Continue reading
ACLU of Illinois honored by Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame as ‘Friend of the Community’
November 10, 2010 4:02 am | Posted by Allie Carter
On Wednesday, November 10th, the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois will be inducted at the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame’s 20th annual ceremony in recognition of “decades... Continue reading
End Illinois’ Broken Death Penalty
November 9, 2010 6:37 pm | Posted by Allie Carter
Illinois death penalty system is broken beyond repair. Two years after the moratorium was issued in 2000, the Ryan Commission issued 85 recommendations to improve our death penalty system. Eight... Continue reading
Wanted: Illinois High Schools Seeking to Expand First Amendment Efforts
November 1, 2010 4:40 pm | Posted by Ofelia Casillas
The Illinois First Amendment Center (IFAC) Illinois High School Media Mini-Grants Program is seeking applicants for grants that aim to help Illinois public or private high schools with existing media... Continue reading
It’s Time for the Student Non-Discrimination Act!
November 1, 2010 4:33 pm | Posted by Allie Carter
Northern California School officials required a female student to participate in school-sponsored “counseling” designed to discourage students from being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. Officials also denied the student access... Continue reading
An Unconstitutional Recall
October 26, 2010 3:21 pm | By Harvey Grossman, Legal Director of the ACLU of Illinois
On November 2, voters in Illinois will decide whether to amend our state constitution to allow for a recall election for the office of governor. While the concept of recall... Continue reading
It Gets Better… and We’re Here to Help
October 12, 2010 6:51 pm | Posted by Allie Carter
The wave of recent youth suicides due to anti-LGBT bullying has been a wakeup call to many. In September, writer Dan Savage started the It Gets Better Project on YouTube... Continue reading
Making the Moratorium Permanent this November
October 11, 2010 11:13 pm | Posted by Mary Dixon
The Illinois Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (ICADP) will file legislation during the veto session that abolishes the death penalty and transfers unobligated and unexpended money remaining in the... Continue reading
New brief filed in ACLU v. Alvarez
October 7, 2010 5:32 pm | By Allie Carter, Senior Field Manager
Yesterday, the ACLU of Illinois filed a new brief in our case, ACLU v. Alvarez, seeking to end prosecutions for recording public conversations with police. The brief, simultaneously arguing for... Continue reading