News & Commentary

ST. LOUIS, February 26, 2008-The American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri filed a federal lawsuit today on behalf of a solider currently serving in Iraq. Army Specialist Anthony Collins of Charlie Company’s 327th Infantry Regiment returned to St. Louis on leave from war-torn Iraq, he encountered the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, whose officers pepper-sprayed him, forced him to the ground, handcuffed him and arrested him near a routine police checkpoint on June 30, 2006.

COURT UPHOLDS SLAPP SUIT DISMISSAL

Roe v. Crawford Decision

ST. LOUIS, January 8, 2008 - The American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri applauded the decision of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri that found the practice of Bible distribution in the public school of a rural Missouri county was unconstitutional. The ACLU of Eastern Missouri filed suit against the South Iron School District in February 2006. The court had earlier entered a temporary injunction against Bible distribution, which was upheld by the Eight Circuit appellate court in August 2007.

NEW YORK - The American Civil Liberties Union filed a landmark lawsuit today to stop the government from conducting surveillance under a new wiretapping law that gives the Bush administration virtually unchecked power to intercept Americans' international e-mails and telephone calls. The case was filed on behalf of a broad coalition of attorneys and human rights, labor, legal and media organizations whose ability to perform their work - which relies on confidential communications - will be greatly compromised by the new law.

ST. LOUIS – The American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri welcomed a decision today preserving the constitutional protection of unpopular speech. The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit found in favor of Shirley L. Phelps-Roper, a member of the Westboro Baptist Church (WBC), in a case challenging a Missouri law that stripped her of her constitutional rights to free speech and religious liberty by banning protests at funerals. The court’s decision in Phelps-Roper v. Nixon reverses an earlier decision that denied Phelps-Roper’s request for a preliminary injunction while the constitutionality of the law is reviewed.

ST. LOUIS, Nov. 5, 2007 – The ACLU of Eastern Missouri is proud to announce the 36th Annual Bill of Rights Celebration taking place Saturday, December 1, 2007 at The Pageant. The program features award winning actor, singer and activist Harry Belafonte and includes a performance by the musical group A Taste of Motown.

ST. LOUIS, MO - The American Civil Liberties Union today asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit to uphold a ruling allowing women prisoners in Missouri to obtain timely, safe, and legal abortion care.

The ACLU of Eastern Missouri today announced that it plans to file an amicus brief supporting the Firefighters Institute for Racial Equality (FIRE) and individual firefighters in their appeal of a judge’s rejection of their challenge to promotional tests that are alleged to be racially biased. The ACLU contends that the lower court was required to consider the difference in past rates in determining whether the tests had an adverse impact on black firefighters. ACLU of Eastern Missouri Legal Director Anthony Rothert said, “The court also erred in failing to give any consideration to the long history of racial discrimination by the St. Louis Fire Department that has been previously recognized by the Court.” The appeal is pending in the federal Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.