Our Membership and Education Organizer, Jon Gaither, has been organizing Bill of Rights conferences for high school students across the state.  In addition to learning about civil liberties and the amendments to the Constitution, students receive a Know Your Rights lesson that explains what to do if stopped by Police, Immigration Agents or the FBI.

Facing questioning by police can be intimidating so it's always a worth a reminder on what rights we have when dealing with law enforcement. 
| continue reading

Commemorating 10 years since the passage of the Patriot Act, the ACLU has an info graphic on the many changes to surveillance laws that made it easier for the government to spy on ordinary Americans by expanding the authority to monitor phone and email communications, collect bank and credit reporting records, and track the activity of innocent Americans on the Internet.
| continue reading

USA Today reported last week that the Transportation Security Administration is now rolling out an additional screening measure, a "chat down", where selected passengers will be asked pointed questions about their travel plans.
| continue reading

Two American citizens were targeted and killed this weekend by CIA drone strikes in Yemen.  They were Anwar Awlaki and Samir Khan.  They were never charged with a crime and they were both on a secret government "kill list" that the ACLU and the Center for Constitutional Rights challenged in court (and lost) last year.  The lack of due process contradicts the tradition of rule of law and constitut | continue reading

The ACLU is urging the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (the "Super Committee'") to cut funding for three immigration programs that are rife with civil rights abuses and lacking in meaningful oversight.

They are: | continue reading

The State of Georgia has scheduled the execution of Troy Davis next week on Wednesday, September 21 for a crime he may not have committed. 

Amid doubts and evidence against other suspects, Davis was sentenced on the basis of witness testimony, but seven of nine original witnesses have since recanted or changed their testimony.

After numberous appeals, Davis' fate now rests in the hands of Georgia Pardons and Parole Board.
| continue reading

The New York Times reported today that the Lake Erie Correctional Center, a state prison in Ohio, was sold to Corrections Corporation of America for $72 million.

This is bad news for all involved except the corporation.  If past history is any guide, CCA will maximize profits by slashing programs, cutting wages for employees, and by increasing the number of inmates held at the facility. 
| continue reading

A victory announced today by the ACLU against a Department of Homeland Security policy of monitoring peace and social rallies and protests:
Posted by Robin Greene, ACLU Washington Legislative Office on the ACLU Blog of Rights: | continue reading