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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 attorneys and legal expertise in cases where Civil Rights are allegedly being violated.

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 abortion, rights for homosexuals, and what they view as its selective defense of the freedom of speech of persons with unpopular or controversial opinions.

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

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.

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

External Links

• History of the ACLU
• Aclu history
• The organization's "Official" website is at: http://www.aclu.org