Difference between revisions of "ACLU"
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The ACLU is the American Civil Liberties Union, which was run for its first 30 years by a American citizen named Roger Baldwin, who helped found it in 1920 in response to the [[Espionage Act]] and [[Sedition Act]]. Baldwin once declared being "for ''Socialism'', disarmament, and ultimately for abolishing the state itself... We seek the social ownership of property, the abolition of the propertied class, and the ''sole control'' of those who produce wealth. ''Communism'' is the goal." <ref>http://www.leaderu.com/real/ri9402/aclu.html</ref> | The ACLU is the American Civil Liberties Union, which was run for its first 30 years by a American citizen named Roger Baldwin, who helped found it in 1920 in response to the [[Espionage Act]] and [[Sedition Act]]. Baldwin once declared being "for ''Socialism'', disarmament, and ultimately for abolishing the state itself... We seek the social ownership of property, the abolition of the propertied class, and the ''sole control'' of those who produce wealth. ''Communism'' is the goal." <ref>http://www.leaderu.com/real/ri9402/aclu.html</ref> | ||
==ACLU and the Establishment Clause== | ==ACLU and the Establishment Clause== | ||
| − | A example of ACLU litigation regarding the Establishment Clause was ''Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School Dist.'', 400 F.Supp.2d 707 (M.D. Pa. 2005), also known as the [[Intelligent design]] case. The ACLU prevailed in prohibiting teachers from even mentioning [[Intelligent Design]] to students. At the end of this case the trial judge simply copied more than 90% of the ACLU's brief for his ruling.<ref>http://www.discovery.org/scripts/viewDB/index.php?command=view&id=3829&program=CSC%20-%20Views%20and%20News</ref> The judge then entered a judgment for $2,067,226.00 against the school board members for the legal fees and expenses of the ACLU's side. The judge's order also prevented any appeal of his opinion in the case. | + | A example of ACLU litigation regarding the Establishment Clause was ''Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School Dist.'', 400 F.Supp.2d 707 (M.D. Pa. 2005)<ref>http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/dover/kitzmiller_v_dover_decision.html</ref> , also known as the [[Intelligent design]] case. The ACLU prevailed in prohibiting teachers from even mentioning [[Intelligent Design]] to students. At the end of this case the trial judge simply copied more than 90% of the ACLU's brief for his ruling.<ref>http://www.discovery.org/scripts/viewDB/index.php?command=view&id=3829&program=CSC%20-%20Views%20and%20News</ref> The judge then entered a judgment for $2,067,226.00 against the school board members for the legal fees and expenses of the ACLU's side. The judge's order also prevented any appeal of his opinion in the case. |
The judge relied heavily on the decision in ''Selman v. Cobb County Sch. Dist.'', 390 F. Supp. 2d 1286 (N.D. Ga. 2005). But that decision was later reversed on appeal in ''Selman v. Cobb County Sch. Dist.'', 2006 U.S. App. LEXIS 13005 (11th Cir. May 25, 2006). | The judge relied heavily on the decision in ''Selman v. Cobb County Sch. Dist.'', 390 F. Supp. 2d 1286 (N.D. Ga. 2005). But that decision was later reversed on appeal in ''Selman v. Cobb County Sch. Dist.'', 2006 U.S. App. LEXIS 13005 (11th Cir. May 25, 2006). | ||
Revision as of 04:15, March 13, 2007
The ACLU is the American Civil Liberties Union, which was run for its first 30 years by a American citizen named Roger Baldwin, who helped found it in 1920 in response to the Espionage Act and Sedition Act. Baldwin once declared being "for Socialism, disarmament, and ultimately for abolishing the state itself... We seek the social ownership of property, the abolition of the propertied class, and the sole control of those who produce wealth. Communism is the goal." [1]
Contents
ACLU and the Establishment Clause
A example of ACLU litigation regarding the Establishment Clause was Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School Dist., 400 F.Supp.2d 707 (M.D. Pa. 2005)[2] , also known as the Intelligent design case. The ACLU prevailed in prohibiting teachers from even mentioning Intelligent Design to students. At the end of this case the trial judge simply copied more than 90% of the ACLU's brief for his ruling.[3] The judge then entered a judgment for $2,067,226.00 against the school board members for the legal fees and expenses of the ACLU's side. The judge's order also prevented any appeal of his opinion in the case.
The judge relied heavily on the decision in Selman v. Cobb County Sch. Dist., 390 F. Supp. 2d 1286 (N.D. Ga. 2005). But that decision was later reversed on appeal in Selman v. Cobb County Sch. Dist., 2006 U.S. App. LEXIS 13005 (11th Cir. May 25, 2006).
ACLU chapters frequently sue to compel removal of the Ten Commandments from public property. For example, in McCreary County v. ACLU, 545 U.S. 844 (2005), the ACLU of Kentucky forced two counties to remove displays of the Ten Commandments from their courthouses. In Utah, the ACLU even announced a scavenger hunt for anyone who could find a display of the Ten Commandments monument that the ACLU could demand be removed. The ACLU typically receives substantial legal fees from the government in each of these cases.
In 1994, the ACLU of New Jersey sued Jersey City, New Jersey to challenge a menorah and a Christmas tree at city hall. A federal district judge declared the display to be unconstitutional, but the appellate court, in a 2-1 opinion written by now-Justice Samuel Alito, found a modified display to be constitutional. ACLU of New Jersey v. Schundler (1999). Then-Judge Alito wrote, "government may celebrate Christmas in some manner and form, but not in a way that endorses Christian doctrine."
Occasionally an ACLU chapter does side with a Christian student. The ACLU of Michigan defended a Christian student seeking to have a Biblical passage on the student's yearbook page.[4]
Same-sex Marriage and the Gay Agenda
The ACLU of New Jersey filed an amicus curiae brief in favor of same-sex marriage in Lewis v. Harris, 188 N.J. 415 (1006). The New Jersey Supreme Court ruled in favor of civil unions, but by a 4-3 margin did not require same-sex marriage.
The ACLU sues schools when a student alleges encountering "anti-gay peer harassment and bullying based on his perceived sexual orientation." [5] The ACLU holds the school (and hence the taxpayers) liable for actions based on conduct by some students towards others.
Abortion
The ACLU is against any laws restricting what they see as the Right to Choose. ACLU attorneys have argued several reproductive rights cases.
Polygamy
The ACLU has defended polygamists. The ACLU & the Fight Against Racism (make this a section heading, please?)
ACLU and Fight against Racism
Along with the NAACP, led at the time by Thurgood Marshall, the ACLU briefed and argued many influential Supreme Court opinions that led to the eradication of legal segregation.[6] They have continued to defend racial equality since.[7] Even recently, the ACLU fought to overturn prohibitions against renting buildings to immigrants[8]
References
- ↑ http://www.leaderu.com/real/ri9402/aclu.html
- ↑ http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/dover/kitzmiller_v_dover_decision.html
- ↑ http://www.discovery.org/scripts/viewDB/index.php?command=view&id=3829&program=CSC%20-%20Views%20and%20News
- ↑ http://www.aclu.org/studentsrights/expression/12845prs20040511.html
- ↑ http://www.aclu.org/lgbt/youth/28618prs20070221.html
- ↑ Examples: Brown v. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483
- ↑ http://www.aclu.org/racialjustice
- ↑ http://civilliberty.about.com/od/historyprofiles/ss/news082206_3.htm
External Links
- Pro-ACLU sites:
- Anti-ACLU sites:
