HISTORY

The ACLU beginnings in Virginia…

Although the national ACLU was founded in 1920, there was no ACLU presence in Virginia until the mid-1960s. At that time, Virginia was actively resisting racial integration of public schools, had effectively blocked racial minorities from participation in politics, and had outlawed interracial marriage. The University of Virginia still did not admit women, a college student was about to receive a 20-year jail sentence for possessing an ounce of marijuana, and many public schools began the day with teacher-led prayers. To make matters worse, the infamous Byrd Machine still controlled Virginia politics with an iron fist, rendering change from inside the system a difficult, if not impossible, task.

A small group of dedicated activists, most of whom lived in Charlottesville and Alexandria, decided that a strong, independent presence was needed in Virginia to protect individual liberties, advance civil rights and generally help bring the state into the modern era. The ACLU, with it reputation for aggressively promoting constitutional rights, often in the face of great resistance and against popular sentiment, seemed to be the kind of organization that could have the greatest impact in Virginia.

Among the very first cases sponsored by the young ACLU in Virginia was one that rocked the foundations of Virginia's segregationist past. Loving v. Virginia ended up before the U.S. Supreme Court and is still counted by the national ACLU as one of the most important lawsuits in the organization's long, storied history. This case challenged the constitutionality of the Virginia statute banning interracial marriages. When the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the law violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, Virginia and other southern states were forced to repeal their antiquated anti-miscegenation statutes.

The commitment, talent, and tenacity that led to the Loving case continue to serve the ACLU in Virginia to this day.

Forty years promoting essential rights and liberties in Virginia…

In the ensuing years, the ACLU of Virginia has continued to protect and advance the constitutional rights of Virginia citizens through a wide variety of lawsuits and public education programs. We defended the right of lesbian Sharon Bottoms to keep custody of her child. We were part of the team that forced VMI to admit women, and we successfully challenged racially discriminatory election plans in two dozen municipalities across the state. These cases have been at the forefront of advancing equal rights for minorities in Virginia.

In addition, we have led the effort to guard religious liberty with dozens of successful lawsuits. Our lawsuit challenging student-led, but school-organized, prayer at high school graduations was the first of its kind in the nation. Our case defending the right of churches to feed the homeless in Richmond sent a message to local governments not to interfere with religious practices.

Throughout all of this, the ACLU of Virginia has been virtually alone in our battle to protect the cherished but constantly jeopardized right of freedom of expression in the state. Whether it is the right to protest, to read a banned book, or to have uncensored access to the Internet, the ACLU of Virginia has taken on the state, local governments, schools, libraries and other public entities attempting to unreasonably restrict free expression and inquiry.

The ACLU has filed more than 300 lawsuits in Virginia over the last 40 years, and with each successful case we have advanced the cause for freedom and equality. Because these cases required financial resources and legal expertise not available to the average citizen, it is safe to say that only a handful would have made it to the courtroom without the ACLU's assistance. In addition, hundreds of other threats to civil liberties have been resolved with the mere threat of litigation by the ACLU or through our public education efforts.

As a complement to our litigation program, the ACLU of Virginia lobbies the Virginia General Assembly and provides educational programs on civil liberties and civil rights.  Over the years, we have protected the constitutional rights of Virginia residents by altering the course of hundreds of bills in the state legislature.  Through presentations, distribution of literature, and frequent comments in the media, we have educated countless Virginia residents about their constitutional rights.

For information on the national ACLU visit its website at www.aclu.org