By Jessica Baum, Intern

Just north of the Bloomington City Hall, the passersby can find a sign sitting on the grassy knoll. Bloomington residents have grown accustomed to seeing for the past 25 years. It reads “July 4th Defend Your Freedoms, Celebrate the Bill of Rights.”

It sends an important message: While our nation was founded on the idea of freedom and liberty, they do not always apply equally to everyone. The ACLU of Illinois is continuing to work to make the idea the Founding Fathers based our nation on a reality and fight for the civil liberties of all United States residents. The sign will be on display this year until this coming Friday, July 6.

WMBD reported on the ACLU of Illinois’ suit against Bureau Country for failing to provide Arick Buckles his HIV medication while he was in jail. Buckles said he repeatedly asked jail personnel for his medication during his one week stay at the Bureau Country Jail, and suffered from multiple health issues as a result of not taking his medication.

"Basically by my being denied those essential medications to live, I felt as though that was a death sentence. And I honestly felt like I was going to die," he said.

"[Sheriff Thompson's] practices were wrong. I would absolutely love for Sheriff Thompson and his staff to get the adequate training, so that they--so that no one else might experience such harsh treatment and neglect," he said.

Read the whole thing.