home > resources > archive ACLU of Utah Activist Email Newsletter: February 2005 In this issue: Legislative Update ACLU of Utah Challenges Jail’s Book Policy Army Recruiters Agree to Stop Using Sign Tickets Still Available for Bill of Rights Celebration National ACLU Sues Over U.S. Torture Policies Legislative Update: Sponsor withdraws bill that would have unconstitutionally limited free speech rights HB 131, “Access to Health Care Facilities and Places of Worship,” would have limited demonstration and leafleting activities near health care facilities and places of worship by creating an eight-foot floating buffer zone around patients or churchgoers who are within one hundred feet of an entrance to either type of building. The ACLU of Utah opposed this bill (see our letter), which was eventually withdrawn. Legislative Update: Despite constitutional concerns, legislators pass a law affecting Internet sites that contain material harmful to minors On the last day of the session, lawmakers passed Third Substitute HB 260, “Amendments Related to Pornographic and Harmful Materials.” Among other provisions, the law requires the Utah Attorney General to establish and maintain an “adult content registry” of Internet sites containing material harmful to minors; requires Internet service providers to prevent customer access to the sites listed on the registry if they have been requested by a customer to do so; and requires Utah-based content providers to rate their sites. See our letter opposing HB 260. Our complete 2005 Legislative Report will be available soon at www.acluutah.org. ACLU of Utah Challenges Jail’s Policy of Confiscating Books On February 15, the ACLU of Utah and cooperating attorney Brian Barnard filed a federal lawsuit challenging a Cache County Jail policy prohibiting inmates from receiving and owning books. For additional information see the press release. Army Recruiters Agree to Stop Using Sign In January, we were contacted by a student who was concerned about a sign at an army recruiting booth in her high school that read, “Missionary Program: Finance Your Mission and College Through the Army Reserves.” We soon wrote the army (see our letter), and last month, an attorney at the army recruiting office in Fort Knox, Kentucky determined that the sign was not appropriate and assured us that the army would stop using it. Tickets Still Available for Bill of Rights Celebration Don’t forget that our 2005 Bill of Rights Celebration is on Friday, March 18. This year, the party will take place at the Orangerie in Salt Lake City’s Red Butte Botanical Gardens, and we are very pleased to feature Ambassador Joseph Wilson as our keynote speaker. For information about the event and Ambassador Wilson, please see www.acluutah.org. National ACLU Sues Over U.S. Torture Policies On Tuesday, March 1, the ACLU filed a federal lawsuit charging that Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld bears direct responsibility for the torture and abuse of detainees in U.S. military custody. The lawsuit seeks a court declaration that Secretary Rumsfeld violated the U.S. Constitution and international laws. For information about the lawsuit as well as what you can do to hold our leaders accountable for the torture, please see our national ACLU website Return to top of page

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