PRESS RELEASES
> Detroit Judge Finds Patriot Act Provision Threatens Free Speech Rights(10/3/2006)
> In ACLU Case, Federal Court Strikes Down Patriot Act Surveillance Power As Unconstitutional (9/29/2004)
AUDIO
> Associate Legal Director Ann Beeson discusses the lawsuit
> ACLU Executive Director Anthony Romero talks about growing bipartisan movement to narrow the PATRIOT Act.
> Laura Murphy, director of the ACLU's National Legislative Office in Washington, D.C., answers questions on the PATRIOT Act.
NEW YORK - Fear of the PATRIOT Act has caused a dramatic decline in memberships and donations at mosques and forced a church-sponsored group that aids refugees to change its record-keeping practices, the American Civil Liberties Union said in legal papers filed today in Detroit.
This First Amendment "chill" is reminiscent of an earlier era when the government attempted to shut down dissent by investigating groups like the NAACP and the Japanese American Citizens League, the ACLU said. "Notably, those groups and other civil rights, immigrant and free speech advocates today filed briefs supporting the ACLU's challenge to the law.
"Sadly,our government has an ugly history of using its investigative powers to squelch dissent," said ACLU Associate Legal Director Ann Beeson."We saw it during the Japanese internments of World War II, the Red Scare of the 1950's and the civil rights movement of the 1960's, and now we see it in the post-9/11 investigations and detention of Arabs and Muslims." Read more >>
LEGAL DOCUMENTS
> Muslim Community Association et al v. Ashcroft Decision
> ACLU Motion to Exclude Ex Parte Declaration (PDF)
> Govt Letter to Judge Hood, enclosing Ex Parte Declaration (PDF)
> ACLU Response to Govt Letter of 5/19/04 (PDF)
> Govt Letter to Judge Hood (PDF)
> Govt Reply (PDF)
> ACLU's Response to Govt Motion to Dismiss
Declarations: Nazih Hassan, John Doe, Alaa Abunijem, Mary Lieberman
Amicus Briefs: Civil Rights Organizations, First Amendment Organizations, Immigrants' Rights Organizations
> Govt Motion to Dismiss (PDF)
> ACLU Complaint
PLAINTIFF STATEMENTS
> Ishmael Ahmed, Executive Director, Arab Community Center For Economic andSocial Services
> Alaa Abunijem, President of the Islamic Center of Portland, Masjed As-Saber
> Homam Albaroudi, Member, Muslim Community Association Of Ann Arbor
> Mary Lieberman, Executive Director, Bridge Refugee and Sponsorship Services
FEATURES
> ACLU sues for records about PATRIOT Act surveillance
> Section 215 FAQ
PRESS RELEASES
> Through Gag Orders and Secret Evidence, Government Is Suppressing Information About Controversial Patriot Act Powers, ACLU Charges(8/19/2004)
> Justice Department May Be Using Controversial Patriot Act Powers After All, Letter Reveals (5/20/2004)
>Federal Court in Detroit Hears Arguments Today in ACLU Challenge to PATRIOT Act (12/3/2003)
> PATRIOT Act Fears Are Stifling Free Speech, ACLU Says in Challenge to Law (11/3/2003)
> ACLU Files First-Ever Challenge to USA PATRIOT Act, Citing Radical Expansion of FBI Powers (7/30/2003)