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

Blog

Students. We'll Stand For Your Right to Take a Knee

Students Have the Right to Take a Knee

October 16, 2017

File Under :

Free Speech, Racial Justice

Today, students across the country are responding to the pre-game protests by professional athletes, when players during the National Anthem have chosen to kneel, sit, or raise a fist against police violence and state oppression of African-Americans... Read more »

News

ACLU Comment on Homeland Security Notice on Immigrants' Social Media Information

September 26, 2017

File Under :

Free Speech, Immigrants' Rights

ACLU: The government's intention to retain immigrants' social media info would undoubtedly have a chilling effect on free speech that’s expressed every day online. Read more

Blog

Black Athletes Are Not Objects for Our Entertainment but People from Families and Communities Impacted By Acts of Injustice. I Support Them.

September 26, 2017

File Under :

Free Speech, Racial Justice

While for some the jury may still be out on whether Trump is a white supremacist, there is the mounting evidence to support the claim. Read more »

News

ACLU Announces Grant for UC Berkeley Student Groups

September 21, 2017

File Under :

Free Speech, Immigrants' Rights, Racial Justice

The ACLU of Northern CA's grant program for student groups to bring speakers to UC Berkeley to advance equal justice this school year. Read more

News

ACLU of Northern CA Corrects the Record on Berkeley Patriot Statement as Reported on KQED’s The California Report

September 19, 2017

File Under :

Free Speech, Immigrants' Rights, LGBT Equality, Racial Justice

The ACLU of Northern California is not currently representing the Berkeley Patriot in any way, contrary to Pranav Jandhyala’s statement on KQED’s The California Report. Read more

Events

Banned Books Week: Fred Korematsu Speaks Up

September 26, 2017

File Under :

Free Speech, Immigrants' Rights, Racial Justice

Join us at one of six free events reflecting on Fred Korematsu and the importance of speaking out against forces that would seek to silence and censor you. Read more

Blog

Keeping Hope in the Face of Hate

August 25, 2017

File Under :

Free Speech, Racial Justice

Several times since the horrible events of Charlottesville, people have asked me, "what gives you hope?" I have had to search past a few things to get to that answer. Read more »

Blog

I Spy With My Little Eye a Constitutional Violation

August 22, 2017

File Under :

Free Speech, Privacy and Government Surveillance, Racial Justice

There has always been a tenuous relationship between protesters and the police, but it’s even more frustrating to think some police departments may track events and their organizers solely because of the views expressed. Just this year, the Fresno... Read more »

News

ACLU of California Statement: White Supremacist Violence is Not Free Speech

August 16, 2017

File Under :

Free Speech, Racial Justice

The First Amendment does not protect people who incite or engage in violence. If white supremacists march into our towns armed to the teeth and with the intent to harm people, they are not engaging in activity protected by the United States... Read more

Blog

Red-Baiting – An Old Trend Resurfaces #ACLUTimeMachine

July 21, 2017

File Under :

Free Speech, Voting Rights

During the last four weeks of the 2016 election cycle, I was placed at a county Republican headquarters as part of a fellowship. While there, I witnessed firsthand how then candidate Donald Trump’s open contempt for the free press was mirrored and... Read more »