ACLU Asks Judge to Let Case Against AT&T Move Forward


In a rare oral argument, the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois asked a federal court judge in Chicago to block the government's effort to shield telephone giant AT&T from accountability for sharing the telephone records of subscribers with the National Security Agency without lawful authorization. The ACLU alleges that AT&T violated the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 (EPCA) by providing the government with records of customers across Illinois. In an extraordinary move, the United States Department of Justice intervened in the case, urging the case be dismissed. The government asserts that if AT&T reveals any information whatsoever about turning telephone records over to the government - even information already reported in detailed by numerous media outlets - it will reveal "state secrets." You can read more about the case at http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0607140082jul14,1,7735246.story?coll=chi-business-hed.



U.S. House Approves Extension of the Voting Rights Act


In the last E-Newsletter, we told you that a small band of Southern Republican Representatives stood up in a recent Republican caucus and attempted to hijack legislation reauthorizing critical provisions of the Voting Rights Act. On July 13th, the U.S. House demonstrated just how small in number these opponents were - adopting the 25-year extension of the VRA by a vote of 390 to 33. We are pleased to say that all of the members of the Illinois delegation voting on the matter supported the final bill. You can read an ACLU of Illinois statement on the issue at http://www.aclu-il.org/news/press/2006/07/house_of_representatives_passa.shtml.



A "Free Pass" on Warrantless Spying by the NSA?


Since last December, Americans have been waiting for Congress to hold meaningful hearings and take action to investigate the Bush Administrations spying without a warrant on the telephone calls of persons in the United States. Despite a good deal of talk and public pronouncements to the contrary, it now appears that the Republican-controlled Congress is moving to capitulate to the Administration. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter (R-PA) recently announced that he'd reached agreement with the White House on legislation that would give the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court "optional" review over the National Security Agency's controversial program to spy on Americans. The ACLU and other organizations have filed challenges to the legality of the NSA program. Stay tuned for further updates on this situation as it develops.



ACLU Needs Your Help!


ACLU will host a booth at Chicago's Northalsted MarketDays on August 5 and 6, and we are looking for volunteers to help staff the booth for the 4pm - 6pm shift on either day. Volunteers chat with visitors to the booth, distribute ACLU information, sell memberships and collect email addresses. If you can chat about the ACLU for a couple of hours, email Yesenia at ysotelo@aclu-il.org.