Latest From ACLU of Washington

The latest content and updates from the ACLU of Washington website.

ACLU of Washington Will Continue to Be Vigilant for Internet Censorship in Public Libraries

News Release, Published: 
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
The ACLU of Washington has decided not to appeal the April 10, 2012 ruling by the U.S. District Court in Spokane against library patrons’ challenge of the Internet filtering policy of a regional library system. While the ACLU supports the American Library Association’s position that public libraries should not filter Internet content for patrons, the current facts in the case do not support an effective appeal.
Read more

After 18 Years, Death Sentence and Murder Conviction Overturned

Published: 
Friday, May 11, 2012
As of May 10, there is one less person on Washington’s death row. The Washington Supreme Court’s overturning of Darold Stenson’s murder conviction provides a vital lesson about the flaws of our system of capital punishment.
Read more

ACLU Urges City’s Leaders to Agree to Consent Decree with Department of Justice

News Release, Published: 
Thursday, May 10, 2012
To ensure that reforms to the Seattle Police Department are fully implemented and long-lasting, the City needs speedily to agree to a consent decree with the Department of Justice that includes a monitor and court oversight. It's clear that the problems within the police department have been so ingrained that our city can't fix them without outside help.
Read more

Eye-in-the- Sky Drones: Will Seattle Set Satisfactory Safeguards?

Published: 
Friday, May 4, 2012
A week ago, on a Friday afternoon, a reporter called us with news that the Seattle Police Department (SPD) had received permission from the Federal Aviation Administration to employ two unmanned aerial drones it had purchased. City officials declined to comment. Did the ACLU have anything to say? You bet!
Read more

ACLU Joins Legal Team Challenging Sound Transit’s Refusal to Run Ad for “Good Jobs”

News Release, Published: 
Friday, May 4, 2012
The ACLU-WA has joined the legal team representing Working Washington in its lawsuit challenging Sound Transit’s refusal to run an ad promoting good jobs for low-income workers at Sea-Tac Airport.
Read more

Lawsuit Challenges Unconstitutional Stops and Interrogations by Border Patrol Agents

News Release, Published: 
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Represented by the ACLU-WA and the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, three residents of the Olympic Peninsula have filed a class-action lawsuit challenging the U.S. Border Patrol's practice of stopping vehicles and interrogating occupants without legal justification. People are being stopped based solely on their appearance and ethnicity. This is unlawful and contrary to American values.
Read more

Forks Human Rights Group Statement

News Release, Published: 
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Since 2008, our community members have been going through difficult times due to the racial profiling by Border Patrol agents in our area. We acknowledge the importance of this agency and their job of protecting our borders. We also recognize that some agents have gone beyond their boundaries, showing a lack of professionalism and unethical behavior.
Read more

ACLU Calls for Seattle to Establish Safeguards for Police Use of Drones

News Release, Published: 
Monday, April 23, 2012
The City of Seattle needs to develop clear and transparent policies for the use of aerial drones as a tool in law enforcement, the ACLU of Washington said today. Guidelines are needed to protect personal privacy against improper use of drones and to ensure that government does not use the technology to engage in surveillance of political activity.
Read more

Pages