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Save the date: Annual Bill of Rights Celebration Complaints of Election Irregularities in Ogden Meet the ACLU Board of Directors Welcome to Development Director Anna Brower Volunteer Highlight: Chris Covington Legacy Challenge: Defend Freedom Today and Beyond ACLU of Utah Challenges Legislature to Protect Liberties Citizen Lobbyists for Civil Liberties Utah High School Activists Win Local ACLU Scholarships "Don’t Tase Me, Bro!" - The Use of Tasers Under Scrutiny Utahns Demand An End to Guantánamo Now! Roe v. Wade is 35! The Equality Factor Join Us For These Upcoming Events! Volunteer / Intern Opportunities _______________________________ Save the date: May 8, 2008, 50th Anniversary Annual Bill of Rights Celebration
Mr. Ellsberg currently heads up the Truth Telling Project, which encourages whistle-blowing in the national interest, urging current and recently retired government officials to reveal the truth about governmental wrong-doing, lies and cover-up. Mr. Ellsberg is uniquely qualified for such work, having worked on the Top Secret McNamara Study of U.S. Decision-making in Vietnam, which later came to be known as the Pentagon Papers. In 1969, he photocopied the 7,000-page study and gave it to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; in 1971 he gave it to the New York Times, the Washington Post and 17 other newspapers. His trial, on twelve felony counts posing a possible sentence of 115 years, was dismissed in 1973 on grounds of governmental misconduct against him, which led to the convictions of several White House aides and figured in the impeachment proceedings against President Nixon. Since the end of the Vietnam War, Ellsberg has continued to be a leading voice of moral conscience, serving as a lecturer, writer and activist on the dangers of the nuclear era, government wrongdoing and the need for patriotic whistle-blowing. Mr. Ellsberg’s historical perspective on the current political climate is particularly timely, given that the ACLU of Utah is celebrating its own historical landmark - this year marks our 50th Anniversary of championing critical civil liberties work. Expect to see many of the important players from the ACLU of Utah’s extensive history at this event, and we need you there, helping us to celebrate all they have contributed to our state. You will not want to miss celebrating the ACLU of Utah’s fifty years of work by hearing from a true history-maker! Watch your mailbox and visit our website for more information. _______________________________ ACLU of Utah Investigates Complaints of Election Irregularities in Ogden
On November 6, 2007, voters across the state headed to the polls to cast their ballots on key statewide issues such as vouchers, as well as to vote for local officials. In Ogden, Utah, what should have been a positive and uniquely American experience was seriously marred for many voters. In November and early December, the ACLU of Utah received over 20 complaints from voters who experienced problems at the polls in Ogden. The complaints ranged from issues of electioneering at the polling place to outright denial of ballots. Numerous voters were subject to baseless challenges to their voting eligibility. An unusually high number of provisional ballots were distributed within Weber County, an unusually high number of which were subsequently rejected. Voters were turned away from polling places because they were in the wrong precinct. In short, many Ogden voters felt that the integrity of the election process was violated. In response to the overwhelming number of complaints received by the ACLU of Utah, we began an investigation into the allegations of election day violations in Ogden, seeking additional accounts of voting violations from the public, attempting unsuccessfully to meet with Weber County election officials, and requesting documentation to substantiate many of the claims. Now, several months after the Ogden election, it is becoming clear that many of the violations complained of are indicative of more systematic and widespread problems inherent to election processes generally. The ACLU of Utah considered legal action with respect to the Ogden elections, but after considerable evaluation, decided that an election contest is not the most effective way to effect real and substantial change to the way in which Utah elections are run. Instead, we have been working closely with state legislators, county election officials and other advocacy organizations to suggest statutory changes to the existing Utah election code. This legislative session, several bills will be considered by Utah legislators that include provisions provided by the ACLU of Utah as a direct result of our investigation into Ogden election problems. The changes focus on restricting the ability of voters to be challenged without real cause, poll watcher conduct, assuring that provisional ballots will be counted, and election day registration. In furtherance of these goals, the ACLU of Utah has organized with Demos, a non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening democracy by reducing barriers to voter participation and encouraging civic engagement, to organize a roundtable meeting in advance of the legislative session in which legislators and election officials, as well as advocacy groups will meet to discuss these efforts. While the Ogden elections were a source of frustration and anger for many voters, we are gratified that voters were willing to report their experiences to the ACLU of Utah as this has given us the opportunity to address election issues in a way that may positively impact voters across the state. We look forward to an exciting legislative session, the result of which will hopefully be a more robust election code, that safeguards the most fundamental of rights – the right to vote. Stay tuned for the ACLU of Utah’s comprehensive report detailing the results of our investigation into the Ogden elections. _______________________________
Dear friends: As I write this we are entering a new year together. The presidential primaries are upon us. Early results show large turnouts, with many people caucusing or voting for the first time. Commentators are reflecting on Americans’ desires for change that arise from profound concerns. In Utah, we anticipate our first opportunity to participate in presidential primaries. Our national election process is occurring against the backdrop of violence and corruption stemming from elections in other countries, with keen awareness that our own processes are far from perfect. Our investigation into the recent Ogden City election reveals ways our Utah voting system can be compromised. The ACLU of Utah turns 50 this year. The last five decades’ accomplishments were attained with tenacious litigation, advocacy and education. I am very grateful for our members; you have made Utah a better place. The ACLU is effective and powerful because our members are committed to the bedrock principles of the Bill of Rights. These constitutional principles are not a fad. They must not be traded for political expediency nor relinquished due to fear or neglect. Civil liberties are essential building blocks, vital to a healthy and sustainable democratic society. They are the same principles that motivated our founding ACLU of Utah members in 1958. The civil liberties issues that were present in 1958 are similar to the ones we face today: providing adequate legal criminal defense representation to the poor and those in rural areas, dealing with politically generated fears, racial and ethnic profiling, fighting for a more transparent, and accountable government, guarding our First Amendment freedoms. We make progress but problems persist and so, too, must our efforts. I recently visited with two early founders/members: Stephen Smoot and the Honorable Raymond Uno. Both became involved with the ACLU in the 1950s, influenced by injustice they experienced or witnessed first hand. It is humbling and encouraging to know we are surrounded by so many across our state and through time who have vigilantly guarded our liberties. I look forward to the celebrations in the year ahead: the Bill of Rights dinner in May, events around the state, and a celebration of arts and civil liberties in cooperation with the Salt Lake Art Center this fall. I am excited about the opportunities I see across Utah to enhance civil liberties and continue the work that engages us now. Thank you for your support and commitment. Please join us for the next 50 years as, in the words of ACLU founder Roger Baldwin, we “travel hopefully” together towards a more just and equitable world. _______________________________
Your Board of Directors of the ACLU of Utah held the 2007 Annual Meeting in a new format, designed to encourage members to attend at no cost, as well as to ask questions and join in some discussion. Held at Westminster College, the meeting had encouraging results: 33 attendees responded to staff presentations, raised issues, and would have continued on if we had more time. The meeting led into a reception and public presentation by Jameel Jaffer, the Director of the ACLU National Security Project, entitled, “Torture and the Rule of Law: Three Narratives About Abu Ghraib.” This productive meeting resulted in a new Strategic Planning Committee, which is moving ahead with a stakeholder survey to help guide the development of goals and plans for the future. The results will be shared with the membership. We are delighted to welcome our four new board members from a variety of backgrounds. They will bring valuable expertise and leadership to our board. Meet the ACLU Board of Directors
ACLU of Utah 2008 Board of Directors - Front row (from l.) Raymond Uno, Karen Denton, Beverly Dalley, Debra Daniels, Sue Marquardt. Middle row (from l.) Doug Wortham, Erika George, Laurie Wood, Tarek Nosseir, Jennifer Allred, Marc Hoenig. Back row (from l.) Liz Paige, Andy McCullough, David Tundermann, Iqbal Hossain, Tim Chambless, Lincoln Hobbs, Robert Wood. (Not pictured: Jill Sheinberg) The ACLU of Utah welcomes four new members to the Board of Directors Debra Daniels is the director of the Women’s Resource Center at the University of Utah. She is a licensed clinical social worker, and owns a business that provides training and education on diversity, social justice, and healthy relationships for businesses and organizations in the Salt Lake City community. Erika George has been an associate professor of law at the University of Utah since 2003, where she designs and teaches courses on international human rights, humanitarian law, constitutional law, and civil procedure. Prior to entering academia, George was employed by Human Rights Watch and practiced law in Chicago and New York. Liz Paige is the director of service learning for Rowland Hall-St. Mark’s School, where she has been a teacher and administrator for the past eighteen years. Paige is a former president of the board of Crossroads Urban Center, as well as the president of her Jewish religious congregation, Chavurah B’Yachad. Raymond S. Uno is a retired Utah District Court Judge and longtime advocate for human and civil rights. He has been president of the National Japanese American Citizen League (JACL), and received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Utah Office of Asian Affairs. As a law student at the University of Utah in 1958, he attended the first meetings to help form the ACLU of Utah. _______________________________ Welcome to Development Director Anna Brower
Anna’s presence signals an increased emphasis on developing the resources and profile of the Utah affiliate. “This organization has an amazing history and a strong reputation as the leader in protecting civil liberties in Utah,” she reflects. “I am here to be part of the team that will make sure this remains the case as we begin our next 50 years of work.” “People sometimes think that development just means raising more money, but I don’t believe that,” Anna says. “Development means strengthening the organization, reaching out to more people, keeping our work relevant to the needs and views of all Utahns, and educating the public. Development means working hard to ensure that in 25 or 50 years, there still will be thousands of people in this state who care about our civil liberties, and who will act to defend them.” The ACLU of Utah has big plans as we move into our next several decades of work, and Anna is excited to be a part of those efforts. _______________________________ Volunteer Highlight: Chris Covington Chris works for the Utah Department of Transportation as an avalanche predictor. He has volunteered with the ACLU of Utah for over six months and became a member in September. I suppose I would say it was the general erosion of civil liberties that has occurred over the last few years that made me decide to volunteer with the ACLU of Utah. I have been impressed with both what is done by the staff and their willingness to include me in their work. I spent the first part of my time putting together a folder of the inmate grievance procedures from each of the county jails in Utah. The staff felt it would be beneficial to have on hand the different procedures when an inmate contacts the ACLU with a violation of his or her civil liberties. I grew to enjoy contacting the inmate grievance officers and convincing them that sending their procedures to the ACLU was in their interest as much as it was in the interest of the inmates. I have been working on intake more recently, helping to sort the different complaints that arrive at the office. I am looking forward to working with the staff through this year. _______________________________ The Legacy Challenge: Defend Freedom Today With Your Gift For the Future! You may have seen the mailings or read the “Legacy of Liberty” brochure. The news that a major donor in New York had offered to make a cash donation of up to 10% of any bequest to the ACLU Foundation included in or added to a will during 2005 and 2006 was exciting indeed. Several of our supporters took advantage of the Legacy Challenge, and we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to every Utahn who joined in that effort (see “Local Champions” below). Their foresight in planning for a future gift has helped to ensure that the ACLU of Utah will always be able to vigorously defend the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Well, we have even MORE good news about the Legacy Challenge. We recently received word that the Challenge has been renewed for another two years, with a retroactive start date of June 1, 2007! Now, when a donor notifies us for the first time that they’ve established a planned gift, the Robert W. Wilson Charitable Trust will once again make a cash donation of up to 10% of the future gift’s value, with a maximum match of $10,000. How does the Legacy Challenge work? 2. Tell us about it. Matching forms can be obtained by contacting the ACLU of Utah office directly or by downloading the form at the national ACLU website, www.aclu.org. 3. A cash donation of up to $10,000 will be made directly to the ACLU of Utah by the Robert W. Wilson Charitable Trust. Or, if you prefer, visit www.legacy.aclu.org for estate planning checklists, gift calculators, how-to’s, articles, and more information about the Legacy Challenge itself. Legacy Challenge Local Champions
The ACLU of Utah already has several supporters who have taken advantage of the Legacy Challenge. One is Board member Robert L. Wood. Robert and his wife Nora recently made a bequest of $10,000 to the organization. For Robert, the gift has a sense of urgency. “Never before in my lifetime have I felt that our freedoms are in such peril,” he says. “I probably have also reached an age where I realize more completely the importance of the freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution.” Robert is eager to have other ACLU of Utah members follow his lead. “If we all do what we can, to the point that it is personally meaningful,” he reflects, “perhaps we can stem the systematic onslaught against us.” The news of a major gift through a bequest can often be bittersweet. In November, the ACLU of Utah learned that it had been gifted $28,000 by a long-time ACLU member. Mr. Clarence James Palen, of Midvale, passed away in the late fall, concluding several decades of generous support of the ACLU of Utah with this thoughtful bequest. _______________________________ ACLU of Utah Challenges the State Legislature to Protect Civil Liberties During each session of the Utah State Legislature, the ACLU of Utah addresses a wide range of issues. Our organizing and lobbying efforts educate lawmakers and the public about the civil liberties implications of proposed bills. For the 2008 General Session, we will be closely following five main legislative areas: Immigration. This will be a prolific year for bills that address immigration issues in Utah. We are working with a broad coalition to influence the substance of these bills. Currently, there are seven bills addressing, among other topics, employment verification, repeal of exemptions for non-resident tuition, driver license regulations, and the creation of a task force to study the issue and recommend legislation in this area. Several more bills are still in the drafting process. Reproductive Rights. Once again, this session features bills that restrict access to safe abortions. The Abortions Law Revisions bill, HB 236 sponsored by Representative Sandstrom, defines a very narrow set of circumstances in which a physician could perform abortions, essentially creating a ban on abortion. It also allows the Abortion Litigation Trust Account to be used for legal costs associated with defending this unconstitutional law. Privacy/Technology. One of the biggest issues this session is whether the State of Utah will comply with the federal REAL ID Act that mandates states to share all drivers license information with a national database, essentially turning state drivers’ licenses into national ID cards. Also under consideration is legislation allowing the collection of DNA from citizens charged with Class B misdemeanor violations, and the creation of an electronic health information network. Elections. We are very involved in several bills that affect the outcome and credibility of future elections. A major effort will go into supporting a bill to enable voters to register and vote on the day of an election. We are also working to improve the current law that allows for challenges of voters eligibility. LGBT Rights. We are working with a coalition of organizations to support HB 89 sponsored by Rep. Christine Johnson that would amend the Antidiscrimination Act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Other bills address the removal of restrictions on adoptions and foster care by cohabiting adults and the voiding of transactions that go against public policy, such as any legal arrangement that recognizes same sex couples. _______________________________ Citizen Lobbyists for Civil Liberties Join us for a casual update on bills we’re following this session! Feel free to bring a friend for a discussion about effective ways to influence legislation. Tuesday, February 5 Contact Stephanie Peterson for more information (speterson@acluutah.org or 521-9862 x108). _______________________________ They Have What it Takes! Three Utah High School Activists Win Local ACLU Scholarships
The ACLU of Utah has inaugurated a student activist scholarship program for high school seniors to encourage youth in civil liberties endeavors. Three students have been selected to receive the first scholarships in recognition of their work as civil libertarians. The first place award is a $1,000 scholarship. Two additional winners will receive $500 each. All three recipients will be recognized for their work at our annual Bill of Rights dinner on May 8th, 2008. To qualify for the scholarship, students were required to: • Have demonstrated a strong commitment to civil liberties through some form of activism. • Be a high school senior who will be entering an accredited college or university as a full-time student during the next academic year. • Have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale at the time of application. In addition to scholarships from the ACLU of Utah, eligible applicants have been recommended to the national ACLU scholarship program. This year, the national office will award fifteen scholarships in the amount of $5,000 each. Scholarship winners will also be offered the opportunity to become part of an elite class of student activists whose talents and passion are fostered by the ACLU. Applicants to the Student Activist Scholarship Program wrote a 1,000-word essay describing why they became civil liberties activists. A panel of judges reviewed the applications and considered the strength and depth of the students’ contributions to civil liberties, the likelihood of a continuing commitment, and the obstacles the students overcame in achieving their goals. The winner of the $1,000 scholarship is Cara Cerise, a student at Highland High School. She worked energetically to create support groups for the children of lesbian and gay parents at her high school and at Equality Utah. The two recipients of the $500 scholarships are Rachelle Harrison and Michelle Ripplinger. Rachelle is a student at Hillcrest High School. She recognized a problem when she was only in the sixth grade that prevented students at her school from having equal access to educational programs. She gathered data and petitioned the school board to provide transportation for students who would have otherwise been excluded. Michelle is a student at Ogden High School. Last year she discovered that a close friend, and an active Mormon, was struggling to reconcile his sexual orientation with his religious beliefs. She spent the year making Two Loves, a twenty-minute documentary that explores the stories of those who have encountered this conflict. We want to thank the selection panel members who volunteered their time to read the applications and select our recipients: Laurie Wood, chair We will be accepting applications for the 2009 scholarship in October and November. _______________________________ "Don’t Tase Me, Bro!" - The Use of Tasers Under Scrutiny “Don’t Tase Me, Bro.” There it is, the single most memorable quote of 2007, according to the Yale Book of Quotations. It even beat out Larry Craig’s infamous “(I have) a wide stance when going to the bathroom.” But its very infamy suggests that the Taser issue has firmly entered the public debate. Over the last several years, Tasers have grown in popularity with law enforcement agencies; Taser International reports that 11,000 out of 18,000 law enforcement agencies in the U.S. deploy Taser technology. With Taser use on the rise, concern is also increasing, particularly with respect to the situations in, and frequency with which Tasers are being used. This concern is not unwarranted. According to Amnesty International, since 2001, 290 individuals have died in the U.S. and Canada after being struck by police Tasers. In November, the U.N. Committee Against Torture concluded that Tasers “cause extreme pain, which constitutes a form of torture, and . . . in certain situations [ ] can even be lethal,” and went so far as to recommend that member states renounce their use. Here in Utah, Taser use by the Utah Highway Patrol garnered national attention when a motorist was Tasered for refusing to sign a speeding ticket. Years before the proliferation of Tasers, the national board of directors of the American Civil Liberties Union recognized many of the problems that are now the focus of this current debate. In 1994, the ACLU stated that non-lethal weapons should be used only when certain conditions are met: 1. Their use should not be approved absent unbiased and ethically conducted scientific testing that establishes their safety. Fourteen years later, and despite a substantial increase in their use, there is still a lack of objective, scientific medical research regarding the effects of Tasers. When coupled with the fact that people have died after being stunned, Taser safety still seems highly uncertain. Additionally, there is particular concern about the way in which Tasers are deployed, including their use as a routine weapon to enforce compliance, even in the absence of a threat of serious injury or death. Given these facts, the ACLU of Utah maintains that law enforcement agencies should either cease using Tasers pending the results of thorough, independent studies, or limit their use to life-threatening situations as a less-lethal use of force option. Additionally, any Taser use should be accompanied by strict guidelines and oversight. We continue to monitor cases of Taser use here in Utah, and will work with law enforcement agencies across the state to harmonize Taser use policies with the protection and promotion of civil liberties. _______________________________ Six Years is Far Too Long - Utahns Demand An End to Guantánamo Now!
The ACLU of Utah recognized this sad milestone with a Candlelight Vigil in front of the Federal Building downtown. We are proud to report that over 80 Utahns, of all ages and backgrounds, joined us to express their outrage and sorrow over the situation at Guantánamo Bay. (See pictures of the vigil by clicking here) When asked by a local reporter why she joined the vigil, Nancy Applegate of the Episcopal Peace Fellowship said simply, “Because I love my country and because I don’t like to see my country doing things I regard as immoral.” The abuses of power at Guantánamo Bay strike many Americans very deeply. Mary Danzig told a reporter that she’d never been to a candlelight protest before, but she brought her daughters to our peaceful action to help educate them and encourage them to be involved. “I want my children to know that we shouldn’t be silent when people are being oppressed,” she said. “(Guantánamo detainees) have been kept for six years without any rights. Even an 8-year-old can understand it’s not the American way.” Our local demonstration was part of a national wave of action, led by the ACLU and other leading human rights organizations. Thousands of people of conscience participated in rallies, vigils and protests to denounce torture, abuse of power, and indefinite detention. Criticism is so widespread that both Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates favor shutting it down. Former Secretary of State Colin Powell has declared that “we have shaken the belief the world had in America’s justice system by keeping a place like Guantánamo open and creating things like the military commission.” Yet still it remains open! Our nation’s leaders seem to believe they can indefinitely deny basic legal rights to those we hold captive. One detainee has now spent a fourth of his life in captivity - Omar Khadr, a Canadian citizen, was only 15 when he was first locked up over five years ago. Four men have died in captivity; all believed to have committed suicide amid the despair of Guantánamo. In the meantime, not a single military commission trial has been completed. In order to redeem our standing as a leader in the democratic world, the prisoners at Guantánamo should be transferred to the United States, charged with a crime and tried, or sent to countries where they will not be tortured. It’s long past time to reclaim our respect for the rule of law, for human rights, for the Constitution. It is time to shut down Guantánamo. _______________________________ Roe v. Wade is 35! The Equality Factor The race for the White House is in full swing. Come Election Day, abortion will likely be on voters’ minds as candidates pull out the abortion card to cast aspersions on their opponents or stake claim to a constituency. Some voters will vote for or against candidates because of their position on the issue. Few, however, will consider what is really at stake in the abortion question: women’s equality. Roe v. Wade turns 35 this month. With this anniversary we mark not only 35 years of reproductive freedom, but 35 years of impressive gains in the fight for women’s equality. Granted, these were not perfect years. Not all women have had equal access to reproductive health care: poor women, teens, and women living in rural communities have increasingly faced real obstacles because of government restrictions. Likewise, not all women have benefited equally in the expansion of women’s access to higher education, better paying jobs, and other socio-economic gains. And as with the fight for reproductive freedom the struggle for women’s equality is far from over. Nevertheless, these decades have witnessed important advances for many women. The numbers alone tell a significant piece of the story: Thirty-five years ago, there were 15 women in Congress; only 3 had ever held the office of state governor. Today, 92 women sit in Congress, including the first Madame Speaker; 26 women have served as governors; and in the current race for president, for the first time in our nation’s history, a woman candidate is one of the leading contenders for the nomination of a major political party. The political arena has not been alone in this transformation. Women currently make up 57 percent of college students (up from 42 percent in 1970) and are obtaining advanced degrees in record numbers. In the mid 1970s, women made up only 16 percent of medical school graduates; today they constitute nearly 50 percent. Likewise women holding science and engineering doctoral degrees have more than quadrupled since the late 1960s. And the ranks of female Fortune 500 CEOs have grown from 1 in 1973 to 12 in 2007. The timing of these advances is not serendipitous. At the core of women’s equality is the ability to control whether and when we have children. The legalization of contraception in the 1960s and abortion in the 1970s fostered women’s ability to make important life decisions about themselves and their families. This fact is not lost on the only two women to date ever to serve on the Supreme Court. Justice Sandra Day O’Connor co-authored an opinion preserving Roe in 1992 that acknowledged, “The ability of women to participate equally in the economic and social life of the Nation has been facilitated by their ability to control their reproductive lives.” And just last year, in a powerful dissent to a Supreme Court decision upholding the first-ever federal ban on certain abortion procedures, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg passionately argued that the core of the right to abortion “center[s] on a woman’s autonomy to determine her life’s course, and thus to enjoy equal citizenship stature.” Yet, as we mark the 35th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the connection between reproductive rights and gender equality is lost in the political wrangling over abortion. It is time to step back and reexamine the role access to birth control and abortion plays not only in opening up the classrooms, boardrooms, and legislatures to women, but to ensuring women’s equality more broadly. It is time to refocus the conversation on fairness and opportunity so that we all can make meaningful decisions about whether and when to bear children. The political, economic, and social life of our democracy depends on it. _______________________________ Join Us For These Upcoming Events! Wednesday, January 30, 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. - Salt Lake Main Public Library, Fourth Floor Conference Room Tuesday, February 5, 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. - State Capitol Rotunda June 8 to 10 - Washington D.C. _______________________________ Volunteer / Intern Opportunities Video/Film: We are interested in developing a short film celebrating the history of the ACLU in Utah, as well as highlighting current work and future plans. We need help building a production timeline, conducting interviews, and working with staff and contractors to develop the final projects. Film students and professionals are welcome! Historical Research Project: We are looking for volunteers who are interested in historical and other research; this work will support several projects planned for our 50th anniversary this year. This project involves working in our archival materials to identify past and present civil liberties champions, and interviewing current and past ACLU members/supporters. _______________________________ Founded in 1920, the American Civil Liberties Union is a nationwide, nonpartisan organization dedicated to working in the courts, legislatures, and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to all people in this country by both the Constitution and the laws of the United States. The ACLU of Utah was chartered in 1958 to work on constitutional issues that are pertinent to those living in this state. Our priorities include freedom of speech, expression, and association; freedom of religion, including the separation of church and state; the right to privacy; safe prison and jail conditions; and equal protection and due process of the laws. Staff Board of Directors Legal Panel Interns & Volunteers Contact Information |
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