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Weber County Gang Injunction Raises Constitutional Concerns
Posted 8/30/10 - A Weber County injunction against a gang known as Ogden Trece would prohibit all alleged gang members, known and unknown, from gathering in a significant portion of Ogden city limits. An ex parte temporary restraining order was issued by the 2nd District Court on August 20th. The court has scheduled a hearing tomorrow on Weber county's request to make the injunction permanent. The ACLU has sent a letter to the Court raising some constitutional concerns and urging the court to permit full briefing, including by the ACLU as amicus curiae.
Read the letter>>
Read an Ogden Standard Examiner article >>
TAKE ACTION: Do YOU support religious liberty?
Posted 8/27/10 - Sign our petition and show your support for freedom of religion! "I stand with the ACLU and people all across America in defense of religious liberty. I also affirm my support for leaders like Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City who boldly oppose religious discrimination rooted in cultural stereotyping and resist those who seek to trade away our most precious values for political advantage."
Sign the petition >>
ACLU position on NYC Islamic Center >>
Attorney General Shurtleff Urged to Reject Using Information from "the list" in Criminal Prosecutions
Posted 8/26/10 - The American Civil Liberties Union of Utah (ACLU of Utah) yesterday joined with ten other Utah civil rights organizations and individuals in urging Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff to reject using in any criminal investigation information contained in the now-infamous “list” of 1,300 Utah residents who are allegedly in the country unlawfully. The letter responds to recent statements from Shurtleff indicating that his office may be reviewing “the list”—which law enforcement acknowledges was created and distributed by state employees in violation of state and federal law—for invalid social security numbers with the intention of prosecuting individuals on “the list” for state crime violations.
Read the press release (PDF) >>
Read the letter to Attorney General Shurtleff (PDF) >>
Read a Deseret News article >>
2010 Utah Voter Empowerment Information
Posted 8/24/10 - The ACLU of Utah doesn't endorse or oppose any candidate or party, but we believe that no civil right is more important in our democracy than the right to vote. This information packet is designed to help you protect your own right to vote.
Read more >> English / Spanish
Proposed Sale of Manti Street Raises Significant First Amendment Concerns
Posted 8/24/10 - After receiving numerous complaints regarding the proposed sale of a Manti city street to the LDS Church, the ACLU of Utah on August 18 sent a letter to the Manti City Council, which was set to make a decision at their meeting that night. The street has traditionally been used as a public thoroughfare and public forum for people of all religious and political persuasions, particularly during the annual week-long Mormon Miracle Pageant held in Manti. The ACLU letter discussed the important First Amendment rights that would be threatened if the street were to be sold to a private entity, and the lack of public knowledge or involvement prior to the city council meeting. The ACLU followed up on August 20 with a public information (GRAMA) request asking to review documents associated with the proposed sale. ACLU of Utah Legal Director Darcy Goddard stated, "Citizens of Manti were justifiably concerned that such an important decision, with such serious potential constitutional ramifications, might be made with so little public discussion. We have offered to meet with the City, and are eager to learn and make available to the public additional details about the proposed sale."
Read the letter to Manti City Council (PDF) >>
Read the GRAMA request (PDF) >>
Read a Deseret News article (PDF) >>
ACLU of Utah Condemns Act of Vandalism at the Utah Pride Center
Posted 8/20/10 - The individual who spray painted the word "FAGS" across the marquee of Cafe Marmalade (the coffee shop associated with the Utah Pride Center) engaged in a criminal act. The rights to freedom of speech and freedom of expression that are enshrined in and protected by the First Amendment do not include the right to vandalize private property. Although individuals have a First Amendment right to express their views, which can certainly involve troublesome or hateful words such as "fag," choosing to express oneself in this manner is reprehensible and, ultimately, counterproductive. The ACLU of Utah encourages individuals with contrary viewpoints, whether personal or political, to express and discuss their differences in constructive and responsible ways, not through cowardly and destructive acts such as vandalism.
Salt Lake City Launches Anti-discrimination Campaign
Posted 8/20/10 - The ACLU of Utah has partnered with Salt Lake City's Office of Diversity & Human Rights to promote a city wide anti-discrimination campaign. The specific goal of the campaign is to create awareness about employee and employer rights and responsibilities and maintain employment fairness among the immigrant and refugee communities. The campaign will offer bilingual training sessions on employment law and best business practices to eliminate discrimination. Upcoming workshops will be held on August, 24, September 4, and October 5th.
More information on the campaign >>
Read a Salt Lake Tribune article >>
ACLU Defense of Religious Practice and Expression
Posted 8/19/10 - The ACLU vigorously defends the rights of all Americans to practice their religion. But because the ACLU is often better known for its work preventing the government from promoting and funding selected religious activities, it is sometimes wrongly assumed that the ACLU does not defend the rights of all religious believers, including Christians, to practice their faith.
More about ACLU religious liberty cases >>
ACLU position on NYC Islamic Center >> Revised proposed Salt Lake City anti-panhandling ordinance still threatens First Amendment rights.
Posted 8/10/10 - The ACLU of Utah again submitted comments to Salt Lake City regarding the city's revised proposed anti-panhandling ordinance. The ACLU of Utah is concerned that this measure will compromise rights and prove ineffective.
Read the letter to Mayor Becker (PDF) >>
Read a Salt Lake Tribune article >>
Read a Deseret News article >>
California Marriage Ban Struck Down - ACLU Hails Historic Decision And Urges Efforts In Other States To Ensure Success On Appeal
Posted 8/4/10 - In a landmark decision today, a federal judge ruled that Proposition 8, the California ballot initiative that excluded same-sex couples from marriage in the state, violates the United States Constitution. The American Civil Liberties Union, the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) and Lambda Legal filed two friend-of-the-court briefs in the case supporting the argument that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional.
Read the press release (PDF) >>
Help build on the victory in California. Take the pledge to keep working until same-sex couples are allowed to marry all across the country >>
ACLU of Utah Joins Nationwide Letter to DHS Secretary Criticizing Response to and Potential Use of the List
Posted 7/29/10 - The ACLU of Utah this week joined with 120 other civil rights organizations and individuals nationwide to urge Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano categorically to reject use by DHS of the now-infamous “list” of 1,300 Utah residents who are allegedly in the country unlawfully.
Read the press release >>
English / Spanish
Read the letter
(PDF) >>
Read a letter to Senator Bennett (PDF) >>
Read a letter to Senator Hatch (PDF) >>
Read a Deseret News article "121 groups ask feds to denounce, discard 'Utah list'">>
Court Blocks Implementation Of Key Sections Of Arizona's Racial Profiling Law
Posted 7/28/10 - Ensuring that Arizona law enforcement will not be required to demand "papers" from people they stop who they suspect are "unlawfully present" in the U.S., a federal court in Phoenix today blocked key provisions of Arizona's racial profiling law, scheduled to go into effect on July 29, pending a final court ruling on its constitutionality. The ruling came in a lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice challenging the Arizona law. The ruling vindicates similar claims made by the American Civil Liberties Union and a coalition of civil rights groups in a separate lawsuit challenging the discriminatory measure.
Read more >>
ACLU of Utah Seeks Records About FBI Collection of Racial and Ethnic Data
Posted 7/27/10 - FBI's Power to Track and Map "Behaviors" and Lifestyle Characteristics" of American Communities Raises Alarms. According to a 2008 FBI operations guide, FBI agents have the authority to collect information about and map so-called “ethnic-oriented” businesses, behaviors, lifestyle characteristics and cultural traditions in communities with concentrated ethnic populations. Although some racial and ethnic data collection by some agencies might be helpful in lessening discrimination, the FBI’s attempt to collect and map demographic data using race-based criteria for targeting purposes invites unconstitutional racial profiling by law enforcement, says the ACLU.
Read
the press release >>
English / Spanish
Read the full Freedom of Information Act request to the FBI (PDF) >>
Learn more by reading the FBI's Domestic Intelligence and Operations Guide (DIOG) chapter which details provisions for using racial and ethnic data or you can access the entire DIOG here >>
Read a blog post by Sam Ritchie with the national ACLU, "Is the FBI Engaging in Race-Based Snooping?" >>
TAKE ACTION: Tell your member of Congress that you want them to find out what racial & ethnic demographic information the FBI is collecting in your community and how it’s being used.
Read a Salt Lake Tribune story, "ACLU wants FBI to explain data it's collecting on ethnic groups" >>
Read a Deseret News story, "ACLU worries FBI may be doing racial profiling" >>
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