Home : Free Speech : Right to Protest

Protest and the President
For years, the ACLU has fought the White House policy of shielding the president from dissent. The First Amendment protects the right to free speech, but that right is undermined if protesters can't be heard. More >>
> WV: ACLU Calls Government Settlement in Anti-Bush T-Shirt Case a Victory for Free Speech
> CO: White House Staffers Sued for Ejecting Denver Residents from Bush Event
> NM: Protestors Should be Seen and Heard

Defense Department Shuts Down Pentagon Database on Peaceful Groups
The ACLU applauded the decision of the U.S. Department of Defense to shut down its Threat and Local Observation Notices (TALON) anti-terrorism database. The DoD program, which began in 2003 to house intelligence reports about possible threats to military bases in the U.S., strayed from its intended mission and expanded the database to include reports by local law enforcement agencies and military security personnel about nonviolent demonstrations and anti-war rallies. More >>
> Read the Report: No Real Threat: The Pentagon's Secret Database on Peaceful Protest
> Learn more about the ACLU's efforts to fight government spying

ACLU client Jeff Rank talks about his right to protest case, Rank v. Jenkins

"Congress shall make no law respecting…the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

Federal Court Upholds Exclusion Of Denver Residents From Bush Speech Based On Political Expression (11/07/2008)
DENVER – In a blow to free speech, a federal district court judge found that no constitutional rights were violated when Leslie Weise and Alex Young were ejected from one of President Bush's speeches in Denver in March 2005. The lawsuit, brought by the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Colorado, charged that Weise and Young, two of the so-called "Denver 3," were ejected simply because they arrived at the event in a car with the bumper sticker reading "No More Blood For Oil."

New FBI Guidelines Open Door to Further Abuse (09/12/2008)
Washington, DC - Following a briefing today at the Department of Justice (DOJ), the American Civil Liberties Union reiterated its deep concern over new guidelines that would govern FBI investigations. The new guidelines would lower standards for beginning "assessments" (precursors to investigations), conducting surveillance and gathering evidence, and would replace existing guidelines for five types of existing guidelines: general criminal, national security, foreign intelligence, civil disorders and demonstrations.

ACLU of Arizona Legal Director Found "Not Guilty" on Trespass Charge (09/09/2008)
PHOENIX – Maricopa County Justice of the Peace pro tempore David H. Fletcher today ruled that ACLU Foundation of Arizona Legal Director Dan Pochoda did not engage in any unlawful behavior prior to his November 3rd arrest by Maricopa County Sheriff's deputies outside the Pruitt furniture store in Phoenix.

At RNC, Arraignments Begin And Arrests Continue (09/04/2008)
ST. PAUL - Hundreds of people arrested during a crackdown on free speech in the first days of the Republican National Convention (RNC) were arraigned yesterday. The American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota assembled teams of attorneys to offer legal services at the proceedings.

ACLU Renews Its Call For Investigation Into Civil Liberties Violations At RNC (09/04/2008)
ST. PAUL - In response to reports of widespread civil liberties abuses in connection with mass arrests, police raids on private homes and the detention of several journalists during the Republican National Convention (RNC), the American Civil Liberties Union renewed its call for an investigation into the actions of law enforcement there.

NYCLU Report: Arresting Protest (04/28/2003)

New Mexico Protest - Complaint (01/15/2008)

Rank v. Jenkins - Joint Stipulation of Dismissal with Predjudice (08/15/2007)

Rank v. Jenkins - Complaint (06/28/2007)

Weise v. Jenkins - Complaint (03/15/2007)

We are One America Committee v. City of Asheville, NC Complaint (10/03/2006)
We are One America Committee v. City of Asheville, NC Complaint

ACLU Letter to Congress Urging Members to Vote "No" On the Semper Fi Act (02/26/2008)

ACLU Letter to Congress Urging Opposition to the Animal Enterprise Act, S. 1926 and H.R. 4239 (03/06/2006)

Interested Persons Memo: Section-by-Section Analysis of Justice Department draft "Domestic Security Enhancement Act of 2003," also known as "PATRIOT Act II" (02/14/2003)

How the USA PATRIOT Act redefines "Domestic Terrorism" (12/06/2002)

Attorney General John Ashcroft's Assault on Civil Liberties (Updated September 2003) (10/30/2002)

Office of Presidential Advance - Presidential Advance Manual (06/28/2007)

ACLU-NJ SECURES RIGHT TO DISPLAY POLITICAL LAWN SIGNS (01/03/2005)

April 5th, 2004, DOJ OLC Opinion Condoning Controversial FBI Surveillance Tactics (08/16/2004)
The Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel issued this previously undisclosed memorandum in support of the FBI's controversial surveillance of peaceful protesters. The memo was issued in response to an internal complaint by a government employee.

Free Speech Under Fire: The ACLU Challenge to "Protest Zones" (09/23/2003)
Statement of Bill Neel

Free Speech Under Fire: The ACLU Challenge to "Protest Zones" (09/23/2003)
List of Plaintiffs

Free Speech Under Fire: The ACLU Challenge to "Protest Zones" (09/23/2003)
Fact Sheet

Federal Court Upholds Exclusion Of Denver Residents From Bush Speech Based On Political Expression (11/07/2008)
DENVER – In a blow to free speech, a federal district court judge found that no constitutional rights were violated when Leslie Weise and Alex Young were ejected from one of President Bush's speeches in Denver in March 2005. The lawsuit, brought by the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Colorado, charged that Weise and Young, two of the so-called "Denver 3," were ejected simply because they arrived at the event in a car with the bumper sticker reading "No More Blood For Oil."

New FBI Guidelines Open Door to Further Abuse (09/12/2008)
Washington, DC - Following a briefing today at the Department of Justice (DOJ), the American Civil Liberties Union reiterated its deep concern over new guidelines that would govern FBI investigations. The new guidelines would lower standards for beginning "assessments" (precursors to investigations), conducting surveillance and gathering evidence, and would replace existing guidelines for five types of existing guidelines: general criminal, national security, foreign intelligence, civil disorders and demonstrations.

ACLU of Arizona Legal Director Found "Not Guilty" on Trespass Charge (09/09/2008)
PHOENIX – Maricopa County Justice of the Peace pro tempore David H. Fletcher today ruled that ACLU Foundation of Arizona Legal Director Dan Pochoda did not engage in any unlawful behavior prior to his November 3rd arrest by Maricopa County Sheriff's deputies outside the Pruitt furniture store in Phoenix.

At RNC, Arraignments Begin And Arrests Continue (09/04/2008)
ST. PAUL - Hundreds of people arrested during a crackdown on free speech in the first days of the Republican National Convention (RNC) were arraigned yesterday. The American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota assembled teams of attorneys to offer legal services at the proceedings.

ACLU Renews Its Call For Investigation Into Civil Liberties Violations At RNC (09/04/2008)
ST. PAUL - In response to reports of widespread civil liberties abuses in connection with mass arrests, police raids on private homes and the detention of several journalists during the Republican National Convention (RNC), the American Civil Liberties Union renewed its call for an investigation into the actions of law enforcement there.