Civil Liberties in 2008


What are the most important civil liberties issues facing Illinois and the country in 2008? What are the top three civil liberties issues that you want Congress and the Presidential candidates to focus on in the coming year? Please take a moment to complete our short survey and help us set our 2008 agenda!



The 2008 ACLU of Illinois Annual Meeting will be held on April 5 and you're invited! Take the survey, and we'll send you an invitation to the Annual Meeting as soon as registration is open!



From the Galesburg Register-Mail: Girl allowed back to school after protest


"A 12-year-old girl barred from school after officials deemed her maroon hair extensions inappropriate will be allowed to return, according to a letter signed by the superintendent of Pleasant Valley School District 62. In the one-page letter dated Thursday, Superintendent Allen Johnson stated the district "will allow Shawterya (sic) Carter to return to Pleasant Valley Middle School, effective immediately. Johnson's letter responded to an earlier letter signed by Harvey Grossman, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union in Illinois, and Don Jackson, a local attorney and the president of the local and state chapters of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People." read more and leave a comment»



From CNN: Groups Urge US Lawmakers To Reject Telco Immunity Compromise


"Civil liberties groups urged congressional lawmakers not to pursue a compromise solution that would offer phone companies immunity from their alleged participation in the U.S. government's warrantless wiretapping program. 'Whatever is done on the questions of damages, it has to serve as a deterrent,' said Harvey Grossman, legal director of the ACLU of Illinois. 'A 'get out of jail' card would only increase the likelihood of this type of behavior in the future." read more and leave a comment»



Because Freedom Can't Protect Itself


Thank you for your support in 2007. Your activism around the state and in Washinton D.C. has helped protect our rights and freedoms in both local and federal governments. We hope you will consider making a tax-deductible donation to the Roger Baldwin Foundation of the ACLU of Illinois, our legal and educational arm. Your support is crucial to our goal of protecting civil liberties in the upcoming year, when many of our state legislators and officials will be campaigning for reelection.