News Releases

The ACLU has made some progress in bringing accountability to the so-called No-Fly list. In April 2004 in Seattle, the ACLU mounted the first nationwide, class-action lawsuit challenging the No-Fly list. In response to a separate lawsuit, the Justice Department released 300 pages of documents that revealed confusion, inter-agency squabbling, and subjective criteria in placing thousands of names on the list.

New documents show that the REAL ID Act will cost the state millions of dollars and cause major headaches at the Department of Licensing.

The U.S. Supreme Court this fall will hear the appeal of a ruling that upheld the Seattle School District’s use of race as factor in assigning students to schools. The ACLU of Washington will file a brief in the case, supporting the district’s policy as a way to prevent racial segregation.

The ACLU is working with advocacy organizations, the criminal defense bar, and law enforcement to devise community-based treatment and services for drug users and people with mental illness.

Sexual harassment and discrimination are serious problems faced by many Latina women working in the fields and packing plants, and often they do not realize such behavior is against the law. The ACLU-WA has joined with other social justice organizations to form the Amparo Project to combat sexual harassment and other forms of gender discrimination experienced by farmworkers and other low-wage workers in Washington.

The ACLU of Washington announced today the settlement of a lawsuit against the City of Tacoma over excessive fees required of groups organizing political marches. Under terms of the settlement, the City of Tacoma amended its ordinance regulating parades and other special events so that organizations are not required to pay unduly burdensome fees in order to exercise their free speech rights. The City Council adopted the revised ordinance on October 21.

The Washington Legislature recently passed one of the most progressive bills in the nation to improve access to emergency contraception.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Washington strongly supports the availability of professional methadone treatment and other opiate substitution programs in all communities where residents suffer from addiction to heroin and other opiates.

The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit challenging a City of Pasco zoning ordinance that prohibits community services that serve low-income residents from the downtown area.

Last summer, Bremerton-Kitsap Access Television took off the air the “Saturn Series,” a conceptual art show that combined assorted footage with political captions criticizing the Bush administration. With the help of the ACLU, producer Gary Nicholson regained his broadcasting privileges