News Releases

Letter from Kathleen Taylor re: An effort by some police officials to repeal or significantly modify Seattle’s Police Intelligence Ordinance.

I write to urge that you exercise your discretion to release the Safouh Hamoui family from Immigration and Naturalization Service local detention on humanitarian grounds, pending disposition of their case.

Presentation to the City of Seattle Commission for Sexual Minorities by Genevieve Aguilar, Field Director, ACLU of Washington

An ACLU overview of steps to passing a local resolution opposing the USA PATRIOT Act and other anti-liberty features of the Homeland Security program.

As the invasion of Iraq began, the FBI announced a plan to interview at least 11,000 Iraqis in the next couple weeks. While the interviews are reportedly voluntary, many Iraqi immigrants lawfully in the country are fearful they may be detained or sent back to Iraq for saying something wrong.

On Oct.23, 2008, U.S. District Court Judge Benjamin Settle ruled that to retry Lt. Watada for court martial on three of the counts would violate his constitutional protect against being tried twice for the same crime; included was the count of attending a press conference. The judge also ruled that it would be up to a military court to determine whether Lt. Watada could be retried on two other counts involving alleged conduct unbecoming an officer.

Can teachers wear a religious symbol or a political button in the classroom?  What about speech outside class? A brief overview of teachers' free speech rights.

The ACLU of Washington urges President Stephen M. Jordan to reconsider the decision to cancel the scheduled April 5 campus appearance of guest speaker Ward Churchill due to concerns over security. Canceling the appearance makes Eastern Washington University complicit in a "heckler's veto," where any group of protesters that is big enough or violent enough can silence their outnumbered opponents.

Background on the effect of the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) on public computer access at libraries.

As an organization dedicated to fostering free speech, the open exchange of ideas, and access to information, the American Civil Liberties Union urges you to consider closely the ways in which the merger of AT&T and Comcast could limit these liberties. There is a danger that if cable becomes the dominant provider of Internet connections, the Internet will come under the private control of companies that are unrestrained by competition or regulation.