Happy New Year 2007!


On behalf of the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, we are pleased to extend our best wishes for a healthy and happy New Year in 2007. We have a great deal of work to do together to insure the promise of freedom and liberty in our Constitution. We look forward to a year of progress and repair to the damage done to our basic constitutional values in the past several years. Thank you for supporting us.



Vote on ACLU Priorities at the 2007 Membership Summit!


It turns out that the Mid-term election in November was not your last opportunity to vote. Join us for the 2007 ACLU of Illinois Statewide Membership Summit and cast a ballot for our priorities in the year ahead. The Summit, titled "Act Like a Real Patriot: Urge Congress to Restore Checks and Balances Now," gives ACLU of Illinois members an opportunity to speak out on priorities for our communications with members of Congress in the year ahead (the results of members' votes will be transmitted to our congressional delegation) and to strengthen their advocacy skills for the year ahead. Chicago Tribune columnist Eric Zorn and WVON radio talk show host Cliff Kelley will join us for the program. To learn more and register, please go to http://www.aclu-il.org/conference/.



Progress in Juvenile Detention Center Case


Regular readers of the E-newsletter have tracked developments in our case against Cook County seeking to improve conditions for youth housed at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center. In early January, the monitors appointed by the federal court at our request in the case submitted to the court a Modified Implementation Plan, a detailed document that can be used as a roadmap to make most of the needed improvements at the facility. The changes are necessary to assure safe, sanitary and secure conditions for the youth housed at the JTDC. You can read more about the plan by going to http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-0701090202jan09,1,6527075.story.



Playing in Peoria – Making Our Schools Safe for LGBT Youth


A consortium of groups in Peoria have come together to form the Heartland Safe Schools Initiative focusing on steps to make our public schools safe for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students. On January 30th, HSSI will host a special program in Peoria, featuring youth, teachers, professionals and others to discuss the real-life problems faced by youth who are bullied and harassed. The program also will feature remarks by State Senator Dave Koehler and Interim State School Superintendent Chris Koch. The program, titled "Making Our Schools Safe for LGBT Students" begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Cafeteria at Peoria Richwoods High School, located at 6301 North University in Peoria. This is an important program and we encourage you to attend if possible.



Got Email?


2007 will be a year of challenge for the ACLU of Illinois. In the state legislature, we are anticipating critical legislation on reproductive rights, basic dignity for lesbian and gay couples, and personal privacy. In Congress, we hope the new majority will press to restore habeas corpus rights to the recently-adopted Military Commissions Act and for serious review and oversight of the way that the Bush Administration has used its (real and perceived) authority under the Patriot Act and other legislation. To be effective in responding to these challenges, we need to speak with a loud, clear voice. The best way for us to speak loudly and clearly is to be able to get information to you instantaneously – that means via e-mail! We have your email address, thank you. If you have friends, relatives, co-workers and other persons committed to civil liberties who have not joined the Action Alert list – ask them to do so today!