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Home » Legal » High School Civil Liberties Project » What is the ACLU?
Student Rights WHAT IS THE ACLU? What is the American Civil Liberties Union? The ACLU was founded more than eighty years ago to advocate and protect the rights of individual persons. Today, the ACLU works tirelessly to preserve every individual’s rights and liberties by defending political speech and personal expression, ensuring equal treatment for all persons regardless of race, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation, and fighting against discriminatory practices such as racial profiling. The ACLU is on the frontline of defending and preserving the rights of all people in this country. How is the ACLU structured? The ACLU is comprised of individuals who are concerned about the protection of civil liberties. There are about 400,000 members across the country, including 16,000 from Illinois. There are fifty-three affiliate offices, in all fifty states, and more than two hundred chapters. The national headquarters are in New York and Washington D.C. Each affiliate selects cases by urgency, application to a wide range of persons, and potential to affect governmental policy. The ACLU also works in state legislatures and congresses to insure that legislation at all levels respects and protects fundamental constitutional rights. What is the High School Civil Liberties Education Project? The project, which was founded in 1994, is designed to improve the ACLU’s outreach to high school students. The Project is a non-partisan informational resource for students’ rights concentrating on speaking presentations at high schools in Chicago and the greater Chicago area. How can I get involved with the High School Civil Liberties Education program? Join the Student Advisory Committee (SAC), where students meet periodically to discuss issues pertaining to their rights. The SAC gives students a chance to help plan events and conferences. These events are a chance for committee members to tell their peers about their rights as students and recruit them for the program. How can I get the ACLU to speak at my school? Talk to your teacher or administrator. Have him or her check out our website at www.aclu-il.org, email the program director at students@aclu-il.org, or call the director of the High School Program at 312-201-9740 to schedule a visit. What can the ACLU offer me as a student? The ACLU offers you information, one of the most vital resources in a functioning democracy. Do you need to know what to do when you are arrested or are researching landmark students’ rights case? Check out our website at www.aclu-il.org for vital facts and links that are important for you as a student and as a citizen. Why should I care about the ACLU? Civil liberties are a necessity in a truly free society. Your rights to speak freely, to worship or not worship in any way you please, and to receive due process and equal treatment under the law are guaranteed by the Constitution and should not be subject to partisan politics and temporary popular viewpoints. If you enjoy your freedoms and want to help protect your rights, get involved and support the ACLU. Web Links: |
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