Advice from the ACLU of Virginia for students participating in protest

In light of widespread reports of planned student walkouts as protests at public schools across the country, including in Virginia, it is important for school officials and students alike to keep in mind these important legal considerations:

students gather in front of the Capitol for a massive protest

Elected Officials: Stop Blocking Your Constituents on Social Media!

When politicians use social media to conduct public business, the First Amendment demands that critics not be silenced.

Scott Taylor's constituents held a "blocked party" on their lawn.

Cuccinelli and Gastañaga: Making Change Virginians Can Agree On

We will continue to work against each other on issues on which we don’t and can’t agree and will seek to bring others to those causes. We know others will do the same.

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ACLU-VA Statement Regarding Sept. 27 Event at the College of William & Mary

The ACLU of Virginia supports unequivocally the freedom of professors, students and administrators to teach, learn, discuss and debate or to express ideas, opinions or feelings in classroom, public or private discourse.

The text of the First Amendment

Why we represented the alt-right in Charlottesville

The decision to represent Jason Kessler, organizer of the Unite the Right rally, wasn’t an affirmation of his views — which we abhor — any more than our advocacy for freedom of religion signals support for the use of religion as a justification for discrimination.

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WATCH: Our Executive Director Claire Guthrie Gastañaga's Remarks in response to U.S Attorney General Jeff Sessions' Visit to Richmond

On Wednesday, March 15, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions met with local, state, and federal law enforcement representatives in Richmond on violent crime and public safety. Our Executive Director Claire Guthrie Gastañaga addressed a crowd of protesters, who showed up to oppose the Trump administration's unconstitutional policies, in front of the SunTrust Center, where the meeting took place. You can watch her address here:

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WATCH: 2017 General Assembly Post-Session Wrap-Up

Please re-watch our Facebook Live review of the 2017 General Assembly session regarding civil rights and civil liberties in Virginia. In this video, we discussed major bills that we'd like Gov. Terry McAuliffe to veto and explained why those bills, which concern free speech, immigrants' rights, LGBT rights, and voting rights, are harmful to civil liberties in Virginia.

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This Virginia County Denied a Necessary Permit to Build a Mosque, and It Doesn’t Pass the Smell Test

Since 1992, the county approved 25 “pump and haul” permits. The only one it denied was for a mosque.By Rebecca Guterman Paralegal, ACLU national

Our Greatest Hits in Under Two Minutes

Want to get a better idea of how the American Civil Liberties Union has made America better? Take two minutes and watch our highlights reel.

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