Press Releases

ACLU-VA’s Statement on Judge Granting Injunction Allowing Rally to Stay in Emancipation Park

Tonight, Judge Glen Conrad ruled in our favor and granted an injunction to allow the planned Unite The Right Rally in Charlottesville to be held at Emancipation Park. The following statement can be attributed to ACLU of Virginia Executive Director Claire Guthrie Gastañaga:
Issue Areas: First Amendment Rights

ACLU-VA, Rutherford Institute File Suit to Uphold Right of Free Speech for All; Sue City of Charlottesville for Making Permit Decisions Based on Content of Speech

The ACLU-VA and the Rutherford Institute have filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Charlottesville on behalf of “alt-right” activist Jason Kessler claiming his 1st and 14th Amendment rights are being denied by the city’s refusal to allow him and supporters to access Emancipation Park to rally
Issue Areas: First Amendment Rights

ACLU Sues DC Metro Over Rejection of First Amendment Ad

The American Civil Liberties Union and its affiliates in the District of Columbia and Virginia today challenged the Washington area transit system’s advertising restrictions as violations of the First Amendment.
Issue Areas: First Amendment Rights

ACLU of Virginia and Rutherford Institute Challenge Charlottesville’s Decision to Move Planned “Unite the Right” Demonstration

Today the ACLU of Virginia and the Rutherford Institute sent a letter to Charlottesville City Council asking them to reverse their decision to move the “Unite the Right” demonstration planned for Emancipation Park this Saturday to McIntire Park, citing a number of serious First Amendment concerns.
Issue Areas: First Amendment Rights

ACLU of Virginia Tells Virginia Congressional Delegation To Stop Blocking Critics on Their Social Media Sites

The ACLU of Virginia has advised Virginia's Congressional delegation that it is unconstitutional to block people from official and unofficial social media accounts used for official purposes because public officials don’t like the viewpoints expressed.
Issue Areas: First Amendment Rights

ACLU-VA Asks Supreme Court of Virginia to Reverse Circuit Court Ruling on Automated License Plate Readers

The ACLU of Virginia has appealed to the Supreme Court of Virginia to overturn a circuit court ruling that would allow police to continue using automated license plate readers (ALPRs) to mass surveil the public.
Issue Areas: First Amendment Rights

Legal Organizations Ask Local and State Officials to Investigate Police Response to Klan Counter-Protest

The ACLU of Virginia & legal organizations today called on the governor and officials for the City of Charlottesville to request an independent investigation into police response to Klan counter-protest.
Issue Areas: First Amendment Rights

Letter to Rep. Scott Taylor: Censoring Content Based on Viewpoints Is a First Amendment Violation

The ACLU-VA sent Rep. Scott Taylor a letter explaining how his censorship of opposing viewpoints in a limited public forum violates his constituents’ rights to free speech.
Issue Areas: First Amendment Rights

ACLU-VA Applauds Hopewell City Public Schools for Availability of Religious and Secular Materials

The ACLU of Virginia applauds Hopewell City Public Schools for creating a limited public forum space where students can have access to both religious and secular materials.
Issue Areas: First Amendment Rights