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The '''American Civil Liberties Union''' (ACLU) is an American non-governmental organization devoted to defending ] and liberties. Lawsuits brought by the ACLU have been central to several important developments in U.S. constitutional law. The ACLU provides attorneys and legal expertise in cases where Civil Rights are allegedly being violated. The '''American Civil Liberties Union''' ('''ACLU''') is an ] ] devoted to defending ] and ]. ]s brought by the ACLU have been central to several important developments in U.S. constitutional law. The ACLU provides ]s and ] in cases where it believes that Civil Rights are being violated.


⚫ The ACLU was formed in ] as the '''Civil Liberties Bureau''', during the time of the ]. Founders include ] and ].
⚫ Conservative groups in the U.S. attack the ACLU for some of its policies, such as its opposition to official prayers in public schools, display of religious symbols on public property, its support of the legality of ], rights for ], and what they view as its selective defense of the ] of persons with unpopular or controversial opinions.


==Criticism==
However, the ACLU has taken on other cases which equally enrage ]s - for instance defending the free speech rights of neo-Nazi groups (to the disgust of Jewish ACLU members), or ], a group which supports ].


⚫ Some groups, mostly among the ], criticize the ACLU for its opposition to requiring prayers in public schools, display of religious symbols on public property, its support of ], and its support of the rights of ].
Some of its critics allege that the ACLU is not consistent in defending constitutional rights, pointing to its opposition to the death penalty, which they say is supported by the Constitution, and also pointing out that the organization has not been active in defending gun rights, which are also claimed to be protected by the Constitution.


The ACLU has also been critized for defending the free speech rights of persons with unpopular or controversial opinions, including neo-Nazi groups and ] (a pro-] group).
⚫ Initially formed in 1920 as the Civil Liberties Bureau during the time of the ]. Founders include ] and ].


Critics argue that the ACLU goes beyond its mandate of defending the ] by opposing ], in spite of the fact that, in 1976, the ] determined that capital punishment is constitutional. The ACLU has continued to fight against the ] since its reinstatement in 1976, arguing that it violates the ] restriction against "cruel and unusual punishment."
⚫ === External Links ===

⚫ *
==Official Statements==
⚫ *

* The organization's "Official" website is at: http://www.aclu.org
*"The ] are fundamental ]s that protect from ] abuse of power. These rights are indispensable to a ] ]."



⚫ == External Links ==
* (Official)
⚫ * (Official)
⚫ *

Revision as of 17:22, 26 August 2003

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is an American non-governmental organization devoted to defending civil rights and liberties. Lawsuits brought by the ACLU have been central to several important developments in U.S. constitutional law. The ACLU provides lawyers and legal expertise in cases where it believes that Civil Rights are being violated.

The ACLU was formed in 1920 as the Civil Liberties Bureau, during the time of the Palmer Raids. Founders include Crystal Eastman and Roger Baldwin.

Criticism

Some groups, mostly among the religious right, criticize the ACLU for its opposition to requiring prayers in public schools, display of religious symbols on public property, its support of abortion, and its support of the rights of homosexuals.

The ACLU has also been critized for defending the free speech rights of persons with unpopular or controversial opinions, including neo-Nazi groups and NAMBLA (a pro-pedophilia group).

Critics argue that the ACLU goes beyond its mandate of defending the United States Constitution by opposing capital punishment, in spite of the fact that, in 1976, the US Supreme Court determined that capital punishment is constitutional. The ACLU has continued to fight against the death penalty since its reinstatement in 1976, arguing that it violates the Eighth Amendment restriction against "cruel and unusual punishment."

Official Statements


External Links