Free Speech

Our support of the Bill of Rights and the first amendment right to free speech is unequivocal. This includes challenging activities or actions that seek to curtail, limit or erase the free speech of others. However, we reserve the right to exercise our free speech by critiquing the speech of others, such as hateful speech, that is contrary to our core values, which support liberty and justice for all.

ACLU responds to excessive force used on protesters. Read more

ACLU defends "I can't breathe" t-shirts at school... Read more

Your free speech rights at demonstrations and protests. Know Your Rights

Privacy and Free Speech - It's Good for Business Graphic

ACLU Guide: How Companies Can Protect Privacy and Free Speech Read More

Case

Yahoo v. La Ligue Contre le racisme et L'antisemitisme (Internet Free Speech)

File Under :

Free Speech, Technology and Civil Liberties

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal rejects an attempt by the French courts to force Yahoo! to block French users' access to web pages that contain speech related to Nazism. The ACLU Foundation of Northern California filed an influential amicus brief... Read more

Publication

Pledge, Patriotism & Prayer in California Schools – a guide to the rights of students and teachers

In the tumultuous times since September 11th, spontaneous displays of patriotism and prayer have erupted around the nation, thrusting questions about freedom of religion and expression in our public schools to the forefront of the agenda. We have... Read more »

News

ACLU of Northern California Argues Tenants' Free Speech Case Before the California Supreme Court

May 4, 2001

File Under :

Free Speech

The California Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a case about the free speech rights of tenants and private property ownership. In the case, Golden Gateway Center v. Golden Gateway Tenants Association, a large commercial landlord in San Francisco... Read more

Case

Academy of Pediatrics v. Lungren

File Under :

Free Speech, Reproductive Justice & Gender Equity

The California Supreme Court strikes down the 1987 California law requiring teenagers under 18 to obtain parental or judicial consent to end a pregnancy. Read more

Case

McCoy v. Hearst Corp

File Under :

Free Speech

The California Supreme Court establishes that the First Amendment requires a higher standard of proof and review to find libel, especially when the respondents are public figures. Read more