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

News

ACLU’s Challenge to California's Execution Viewing Procedure Moves Forward

August 17, 2018

File Under :

Criminal Justice and Drug Policy, Free Speech, Racial Justice

The Federal Court allowed the ACLU’s First Amendment challenge to California's execution viewing procedure to move forward, rejecting the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s attempt to deprive journalists of the right to view... Read more

Case

LA Times v. Kernan (Right to View Executions)

File Under :

Criminal Justice and Drug Policy, Free Speech

The ACLU Foundation of Northern California filed suit against the California Department of Corrections on behalf of three media organizations challenging the execution viewing procedure. Read more

News

Statement on Court's Rejection of Sacramento Anti-Panhandling Ordinance

July 19, 2018

File Under :

Economic Justice, Free Speech, Racial Justice

A federal judge blocked the City of Sacramento's anti-panhandling ordinance. The ACLU Foundation of Northern California and the Legal Services of Northern California applaud the ruling. Read more

Article

A Look Back at 1968

File Under :

Economic Justice, Free Speech, Immigrants' Rights, Racial Justice

1968 was a year that shook the nation and left indelible marks that remain today. How far have we come? Where are we going? Read more

Blog

Excerpt from our letter on behalf of Ms. Rossi

We Take Baseless Defamation Accusations Seriously. Here’s Why.

May 3, 2018

File Under :

Free Speech

The ACLU Foundation of Northern California is committed to fighting against spurious legal claims that threaten free speech. Especially when corporations and other powerful entities attempt to strong-arm people who have less resources at their... Read more »

News

Statement on Facebook’s New Appeals Process for Content Removal

April 23, 2018

File Under :

Free Speech, Technology and Civil Liberties

For far too long, users whose content is removed from Facebook have had no way to know what rules they were supposed to comply with. Read more

News

ACLU Provides Guidance on Students' Rights at ‘March for Life' Events

April 19, 2018

File Under :

Education Equity, Free Speech

In anticipation of today's March for Life events to demand action on school safety and gun control, the ACLU Foundations of California sent letters to 19 school districts in the state highlighting their obligation to ensure that students can attend... Read more

Blog

50 Years After MLK’s Assassination, We Remain Two Societies, ‘Separate and Unequal’

April 4, 2018

File Under :

Criminal Justice and Drug Policy, Free Speech, Racial Justice

On April 4, 1968, I was 11 and growing up in Memphis when the news came that Martin Luther King had been murdered. My parents couldn’t hide how bad it was – they were angry. They were afraid. And most memorably to my childhood self, they were crying... Read more »

News

ACLU: California Students Have the Right to Protest

March 13, 2018

File Under :

Education Equity, Free Speech

Ahead of planned student walkouts this month, the ACLU of California has advised school officials across the state to adhere to constitutional and state laws protecting students who are expressing themselves politically. Read more

News

ACLU Announces Free Speech for Equal Justice Awardees at UC Berkeley

November 27, 2017

File Under :

Free Speech, Immigrants' Rights, Racial Justice

San Francisco - The ACLU of Northern California (ACLU-NC) is pleased to announce that Free Speech for Equal Justice awardees from UC Berkeley have been selected. Awards amounting to $17,000 will be distributed to eleven student groups to bring a... Read more

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Free Speech

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

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

ACLU’s Challenge to California's Execution Viewing Procedure Moves Forward

LA Times v. Kernan (Right to View Executions)

Statement on Court's Rejection of Sacramento Anti-Panhandling Ordinance

A Look Back at 1968

We Take Baseless Defamation Accusations Seriously. Here’s Why.

Statement on Facebook’s New Appeals Process for Content Removal

ACLU Provides Guidance on Students' Rights at ‘March for Life' Events

50 Years After MLK’s Assassination, We Remain Two Societies, ‘Separate and Unequal’

ACLU: California Students Have the Right to Protest

ACLU Announces Free Speech for Equal Justice Awardees at UC Berkeley

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Free Speech

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

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

Pages

Education Equity