News & Commentary

A Chicago Sun-Times editorial questions whether or not Orland Park Public Libraries should block and filter pornographic websites from library computers. Unfortunately, filters and blocks consequentially end up blocking legitimate science and research sites that have nothing to do with porn. The American Library Association argues that censorship cripples the very purpose of a library’s existence which is to “provide information and enlightenment.” The ACLU of Illinois has long fought against censorship in libraries:

Today, the Supreme Court of the United States denied a request by Cook County State’s Attorney to review a May 2012 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit regarding Illinois’ eavesdropping law.  The appellate court ruled for the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois in the case and the federal district court has entered a preliminary injunction, blocking the Cook County State’s Attorney from prosecuting ACLU staff for audio recording police officers performing their public duties in a public place and speaking loudly enough to be heard by a passerby. The recordings take place as part of the ACLU’s long time practice of monitoring police practices on the streets of Chicago. The information gathered by the ACLU of Illinois would be used as part of its advocacy for changes in police practices in the City. The Illinois eavesdropping law has been the subject of much debate of late. Two state court judges have ruled that the application of the law to prosecute individuals for recording police in a public place is unconstitutional.  And, a Cook County jury last year acquitted a young woman charged with the offense.  The following can be attributed to Harvey Grossman, Legal Director of the ACLU of Illinois:

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: Whi

The photos and video over the past few days in Chicago have been remarkable -- from the Irving Park on the North side, to Chicago's iconic Daley Plaza to the far South Loop, demonstrators have gathered in concert with the NATO summit to express their views on a host of local, national and international public policy issues.   In most of the photos and videos, there are a group of people keeping a watchful eye, clad in bright orange t-shirts and hats. These folks are not fans who have wandered away from a University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign football or basketball game (the school's colors are bright orange and blue).

After months of preparation, the ACLU of Illinois is working through the weekend deploying observers and volunteers to monitor NATO Summit protest activity. The NATO Summit will take place on Sunday, May 20th and Monday, May 21st at the McCormick Center, but protest activity has already been taking place in the week leading up to the Summit. Protesters and activists from around the world have descended on Chicago to demonstrate against a vast array of issues ranging from the war in Afghanistan, to health care, to corporate malfeasance on Wall Street.

WTTW covered Friday's nurse's rally at the Daley Plaza, and spoke to ACLU legal director Harvey Grossman, who was on the scene to monitor protest activity with a team of ACLU observers. The nurse's rally was the first protest event leading up to the NATO Summit in Chicago. The ACLU of Illinois has prepared a program to deploy observers and volunteers to monitor activity and hand out information about free speech rights all weekend. Watch the segment below: