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Visit the national ACLU Action Center >>
Learn more about the Utah legislative process
and how you can be involved >>
TAKE ACTION: Tell HHS: Stand your ground on affordable access to contraception
Posted 4/3/13 - In a breakthrough for women's health, the Obama administration has ensured that millions of women have access to affordable, effective contraception. But anti-family planning forces are waging an all-out campaign to prevent women from getting affordable access to this basic health care. They are claiming that your boss should be able to control your health care decisions. Urge the Obama administration to stand firm and not yield to those seeking to undo a major victory for women's health.
Act now >>>
TAKE ACTION: Support Employment And Housing Equality Across Utah
Posted 3/6/13 - SB 262, Employment and Housing Antidiscrimination Amendments, will be heard in committee tomorrow, Thursday March 7, 2013 at 4 pm in Room 215 of the Senate building. Contact members of the Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Standing Committee and tell them to vote YES on SB 262, Employment and Housing Antidiscrimination Amendments.
Read more >>
ACTION ALERT! Protect Privacy And Good Law Enforcement Practices - Support S.B. 196
Posted 2/27/13 - The ACLU of Utah supports SB 196, “License Plate Reader Amendments” because it will protect the privacy rights of Utahns whose movements should not be tracked by law enforcement without cause. Email committee members now.
Read more >>
ACTION ALERT: Tell Congress, Don’t Let Our Right To Privacy Expire
Posted 11/29/12 - Our rights are in danger. The Bill of Rights was intended to grant all Americans protection from unreasonable government intrusions into our lives. Two decades ago, Congress recognized that the courts were not keeping up with the times, so it passed a law to preserve privacy rights in electronic communications. The 1986 law made some critical reforms, but came from an era with no Google, no Facebook, no World Wide Web. Now, that law needs to be updated to ensure that our rights don’t vanish as our lives move into the cloud.
Read more and take action >>
Tell Attorney General Holder: Protect Every American's Right to Vote
Posted 6/4/12 - More than four decades ago, the Voting Rights Act put an end to the widespread discrimination that robbed people of color of their voice at the ballot box. In state capitals across the country (including Utah), we are again seeing a pernicious attack on one of the American people's most cherished and fundamental rights: the right to vote.
Read more and take action >>
Results of Nationwide Government Cell Phone Tracking Records Request Show Frequent Violations of Americans' Privacy Rights
Posted 4/2/12 - Of all of the recent technological developments that have expanded the surveillance capabilities of law enforcement agencies at the expense of individual privacy, perhaps the most powerful is cell phone location tracking. As part of a national campaign, the ACLU of Utah submitted GRAMA requests to 8 local law enforcement agencies to see if they used cell phone tracking. The responses, along with others from around the country, were analyzed showing disturbing trends.
Read more the full blog post >>
Read a New York Times article >>
TAKE ACTION: Support the GPS Act introduced by Rep. Jason Chaffetz & Sen. Ron Wyden >>
Governor Herbert Should Veto Sex-Ed Bill
Posted 3/13/12 - The ACLU of Utah delivered a letter today urging Governor Herbert to veto HB 363 “Health Education Amendments.” HB 363 deprives parents of the choice to have health education other than abstinence only instruction provided in public schools. Evidence clearly shows that sexuality education that stresses the importance of waiting to have sex while providing accurate, age-appropriate, and complete information about how to use contraceptives effectively to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can help teens make healthy decisions.
Read the HB 363 veto letter to Gov. Herbert (PDF) >>
TAKE ACTION: Tell Gov. Herbert to veto HB 363 >>
Stop the assault on women’s reproductive health in Utah!
Posted 2/24/12 - HB 461, Abortion Waiting Period, would expand the waiting period before a woman can get an abortion from 24 to 72 hours creating a substantial and undue burden on a woman’s constitutional right to access an abortion, particularly in a state like Utah, where geography and location of abortion providers is such that many women would have to travel great distances in order to access services.
TAKE ACTION: Tell members of the House Health and Human Services Committee to vote NO on HB 461, Abortion Waiting Period >>
Support Open Health Education In Our Schools
Posted 2/9/12 - HB 363, Health Education Amendments would alter Utah law by categorically prohibiting even the mere discussion of certain topics, including homosexuality, sex outside of marriage and contraception. Under existing Utah law, a parent can already choose whether or not to have their child participate in sex education. HB 363 removes the ability for school districts to make decisions for students that they deem to be in their best interests.
TAKE ACTION: Contact representatives on the House Education Subcommittee TODAY and tell them to vote NO on HB 363 >>
Support Employment And Housing Equality Across Utah
Posted 2/2/12 - SB 51, Statewide Nondiscrimination Amendment Protections will be heard in committee tomorrow, Friday February 3, 2012 at 2:10 pm in Room 415 of the state Capitol. Contact members of the Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Standing Subcommittee and tell them to vote YES on SB 51, Statewide Nondiscrimination Amendment Protections.
Read more and take action >>
Protect The Right To Vote!
Posted 1/23/12 - H.B. 253, Voter Registration Amendments, could require the county clerk to remove YOU from the voting rolls if you choose not to vote in two consecutive general elections. Targeting a voter to be removed from voting rolls simply because he or she chooses not to vote in an election violates the federal National Voting Rights Act (NVRA) and could put Utah at risk of inviting costly litigation.
TAKE ACTION: Tell members of the House Political Subdivisions Subcommittee that the right to vote includes the right not to vote! >>
ACTION ALERT: Senate Bill allows Military to detain American Citizens
Posted 11/28/11 - Senators are demanding that the military lock up American citizens in a “battlefield” they define as being right outside your window. TAKE ACTION! Demand that they respect the Constitution and SAY NO to indefinite detention without charge or trial!
Read more and take action >>
We Are Troy Davis: End the Death Penalty!
Posted 9/23/11 - The state of Georgia has executed Troy Davis, despite serious concerns that he was wrongly convicted in 1989 of killing a police officer. This case makes clear that the death penalty system in the United States is broken beyond repair. It is arbitrary, discriminatory and comes at an enormous cost to taxpayers, and it must be ended.
Read more >>
TAKE ACTION: Send a message to Governor Herbert today - Click Utah on the map >>
Tell Congress To Update Privacy Laws to Protect Location Information
Posted 8/3/11 - Sen. Ron Wyden & Rep. Jason Chaffetz introduced the Geolocation Privacy and Surveillance Act in the House and Senate to protect location privacy. The bills require law enforcement to get a warrant based on probable cause before accessing location information and also regulate the use of this information by business. With location tracking cases rising up all over the country this would provide a strong and clear national standard for law enforcement
TAKE ACTION: Tell Congress To Update Privacy Laws to Protect Location Information >>
Honor Those Who Said 'No' To Torture
Posted 7/13/11 - Over the July 4th weekend, The New York Times published an editorial endorsing the national ACLU call for the Obama administration to bestow official honors on those who "stood up against the Bush administration's immoral torture policies." Top officials of the Bush Administration approved the torture and abuse of prisoners, but brave men and women throughout the military and the government challenged the policies, called out abuses, and worked to end the use of coerced evidence. These courageous individuals should be honored for their integrity and their commitment to real American values.
TAKE ACTION: Ask President Obama to Honor Those Who Stood Up Against Torture >>
TAKE ACTION: Stop Censorship in Our Public Schools!
Posted 4/5/11 - Did you know that it’s illegal for public schools to use their web filtering software to deny students
access to positive, affirming information about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender issues while allowing access to anti-gay websites? The ACLU's LGBT Project, along with the Yale Law School LGBT Litigation Clinic, is asking public high school students nationwide. to check out your high school’s web filters and help us make sure you’re not being blocked from information you have a right to have!
TAKE ACTION: Students, help stop censorship >>
Read a Salt Lake Tribune article >>
Honoring Courage Seven Years After Abu Ghraib
Posted 4/29/11 - The Bush administration repeatedly honored those who approved torture, but the Obama administration should honor those — like Joe Darby — who rejected it. You can send your own personal message of thanks to the American heroes who stood up against torture, and have copies of those messages sent to President Obama.
Read more and send your message of thanks >>
TAKE ACTION: Stop Censorship in Our Public Schools!
Posted 4/5/11 - Did you know that it’s illegal for public schools to use their web filtering software to deny students
access to positive, affirming information about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender issues while allowing access to anti-gay websites? The ACLU's LGBT Project, along with the Yale Law School LGBT Litigation Clinic, is asking public high school students nationwide. to check out your high school’s web filters and help us make sure you’re not being blocked from information you have a right to have!
TAKE ACTION: Students, help stop censorship >>
Read a Salt Lake Tribune article >>
TAKE ACTION: Tell the governor: "Don't play politics with women's health."
Posted 3/17/11 - The governor could sign legislation to restrict access to abortion any day now. "Insurance Amendments Relating to Abortion," HB 354, blocks insurance companies from offering comprehensive policies that include coverage for abortion and interferes with a woman's private medical decisions. This bill is on the governor's desk, and we urgently need your help.
Tell Governor Herbert to oppose "Insurance Amendments Relating to Abortion" today >>
Download the ACLU of Utah's letter to Governor Herbert urging him veto HB 354 (PDF) >>
TAKE ACTION: Keep Government Transparent and Accountable
Posted 3/4/11 - The Senate Rules Committee will hold a hearing today to review H.B. 477, "Government Records Amendments," that would modify current GRAMA law reducing transparency in Utah government. Show your support for open government that is accountable to the people by coming to the hearing this afternoon, Friday, March 4, at 3:00 p.m. in Room 415 at the State Capitol! If you can not make it to the Capitol, email committee members and your Senator. Tell them to vote no on H.B. 477!
Read more and take action >>
Tell Congress To Support the Repeal of DOMA
Posted 2/25/11 - Following the historic decision by the Obama administration to no longer defend the constitutionality of the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in court, we need you to urge your member of Congress to strongly oppose any legislative effort to have Congress defend DOMA against federal court challenges.
Take Action >>
TAKE ACTION: Keep In-State Tuition For All Utah Residents
Posted 2/17/11 - H.B. 191, "Nonresident Tuition Waiver Amendments" will be heard in the House Revenue and Taxation Committee tomorrow morning. This bill seeks to repeal the current Utah law allowing non-citizens to be eligible for in-state tuition if they attended a Utah high school for three years or more, and graduated from a Utah high school. Please contact committee members and tell them to VOTE NO on H.B. 191.
Read the ACLU of Utah talking points and take action >>
TAKE ACTION: Stop H.B. 70, "Illegal Immigration Enforcement Act"
Posted 2/10/11 - Rep. Sandstrom's HB 70, "Illegal Immigration Enforcement Act," is going to be heard in the House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee tomorrow at 2pm (PM/ Room 30 in the House Building). Show up early to fill the committee room. Contact the representatives who will be at the hearing and tell them to VOTE NO on the Arizona copycat bill!
Read the ACLU of Utah's talking points and take action >>
Ask Your Representative to Reject Attacks on Constitutional Citizenship
Posted 1/10/11 - Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and legislators in states across the country have unveiled plans to attempt to gut the constitutional guarantee of citizenship enshrined in the 14th Amendment and to overturn long-established Supreme Court precedent. Citizenship for all people born on U.S. soil has been one of the Constitution’s most essential engines of equality and fairness under the law. Please contact your Representative now and ask them to reject H.R. 140 and any legislation that attacks the 14th Amendment's guarantee of equality for all people born in the United States.
Read more and take action >>
Government Agrees With Groups That Human Genes Should Not Be Patentable
Posted 11/5/10 - The U.S. government filed a friend-of-the-court brief today in a lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Public Patent Foundation (PUBPAT) challenging patents on human genes. The government agreed with the groups that isolated DNA is not patentable. The ACLU and PUBPAT filed the lawsuit in May 2009 challenging the patents held by Myriad Genetics, a Utah based company, on the human genes BRCA1 and BRCA2, which are associated with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. The lawsuit charged that the patents stifle diagnostic testing and research that could lead to cures and that they limit women's options regarding their medical care.
Read the press release >>
Take Action: Tell Congress Your Genes Aren't For Sale >>
Protect LGBT Students from Harassment and Discrimination
Posted 10/1/10 - Every day, students in schools across the country face harassment and discrimination because of their real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. Feeling unsafe in school can lead to increased absenteeism, dropout rates, adverse health (including mental) consequences, and academic underachievement. The Student Non-Discrimination Act, which has been introduced in Congress by Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO) and Sen. Al Franken (D-MN), will help to ensure that discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students has no place in our country’s public schools.
Urge our Representatives and Senators to make schools safe and fair >>
Take Action! Support the Paycheck Fairness Act
Posted 9/14/10 - Women earn less money than men. A LOT less. Over the course of her career, wage discrimination can deprive a woman of up to $2 million. We have a chance to end this injustice right now. The Paycheck Fairness Act has passed the House and is awaiting a vote in the Senate.
Click here to get more information and take action >>
TAKE ACTION: Do YOU support religious liberty?
Posted 8/27/10 - Sign our petition and show your support for freedom of religion! "I stand with the ACLU and people all across America in defense of religious liberty. I also affirm my support for leaders like Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City who boldly oppose religious discrimination rooted in cultural stereotyping and resist those who seek to trade away our most precious values for political advantage."
Sign the petition >>
ACLU position on NYC Islamic Center >>
California Marriage Ban Struck Down - ACLU Hails Historic Decision And Urges Efforts In Other States To Ensure Success On Appeal
Posted 8/4/10 - In a landmark decision today, a federal judge ruled that Proposition 8, the California ballot initiative that excluded same-sex couples from marriage in the state, violates the United States Constitution. The American Civil Liberties Union, the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) and Lambda Legal filed two friend-of-the-court briefs in the case supporting the argument that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional.
Read the press release >>
Help build on the victory in California. Take the pledge to keep working until same-sex couples are allowed to marry all across the country >>
ACLU of Utah Seeks Records About FBI Collection of Racial and Ethnic Data
Posted 7/27/10 - FBI's Power to Track and Map "Behaviors" and Lifestyle Characteristics" of American Communities Raises Alarms. According to a 2008 FBI operations guide, FBI agents have the authority to collect information about and map so-called “ethnic-oriented” businesses, behaviors, lifestyle characteristics and cultural traditions in communities with concentrated ethnic populations. Although some racial and ethnic data collection by some agencies might be helpful in lessening discrimination, the FBI’s attempt to collect and map demographic data using race-based criteria for targeting purposes invites unconstitutional racial profiling by law enforcement, says the ACLU.
Read
the press release >> English / Spanish
Read the full Freedom of Information Act request to the FBI >>
Learn more by reading the FBI's Domestic Intelligence and Operations Guide (DIOG) chapter which details provisions for using racial and ethnic data or you can access the entire DIOG here >>
Read a blog post by Sam Ritchie with the national ACLU, "Is the FBI Engaging in Race-Based Snooping?" >>
TAKE ACTION: Tell your member of Congress that you want them to find out what racial & ethnic demographic information the FBI is collecting in your community and how it’s being used.
Read a Salt Lake Tribune story, "ACLU wants FBI to explain data it's collecting on ethnic groups" >>
Read a Deseret News story, "ACLU worries FBI may be doing racial profiling" >>
Would You Ask This Man For His Papers?
Posted 7/22/10 - Would you ask this man for his papers? Why? Because of the color of his skin? Because of the language he's speaking? Because he's doing yard work?
The fact is, there is no way to tell who is documented and who is not. If SB 1070 is allowed to go into effect, American citizens WILL be subjected to racial profiling. People in this country legally will be stopped, interrogated and harassed simply because of what they look like or the language they are speaking.
That's not right and it's not constitutional. Help us protect the constitution. Help us stop SB 1070. What Happens in Arizona, Stops in Arizona >>
ACTION ALERT: What Happens in Arizona Stops in Arizona!
Posted 5/3/10 - Arizona's new law, S.B. 1070, is  unconstitutional and betrays American values. The law essentially turns Arizona into a police state, requiring citizens and immigrants alike to carry “papers” to avoid arrest. The law encourages racial profiling and undermines public safety by diverting scarce resources toward false threats; eroding trust between law enforcement and Latinos. Here in Utah, Rep. Sandstrom is threatening to introduce similar unconstitutional and extreme legislation. This law is bad for the United States, Arizona and will be bad for Utah too.
Read more >>
TAKE ACTION: Send a strong message to your state lawmaker and Governor Gary Herbert: What Happens in Arizona Stops in Arizona >>
Raising Arizona: Utah should not copy bad law - a Salt Lake Tribune Editorial >>
A Police State - blog post by Vivek Malhotra, ACLU Immigrants' Rights Project>>
Bill Threatens Reproductive Choice in Utah: Act Now!
Posted 2/3/10 - HB 12, "Criminal Homicide and Abortion Amendments," passed out of the House of Representatives and is headed for a committee hearing in the Senate. Although the bill was modified in the House to provide some additional protections for women, the bill still remains a threat to reproductive choice in Utah.
Read more and take action >>
Bill Will Protect the Right of Utahns to Vote: Act Now!
Posted 2/3/10 - SB 53, "Voter Challenge Revisions,"
will strengthen confidence in
the right to vote.
It passed out of committee yesterday with a unanimous vote and is headed for debate on the Senate floor. Please contact your senator to let him or her know how important it is to support SB 53!
Read more and take action >>
Should the Utah Government Decide How Pregnant Women Can Behave While Expecting ?
Posted 1/25/10 - Utah Rep. Carl Wimmer has introduced, HB 12, "Abortion Amendments," which actually has not much to do with abortion, but could potentially affect the thousands of Utah women and families who get pregnant every year.
Read more and take action >>
Take Action:
Fight for Women's Reproductive Freedom
Posted 12/1/09 - You have a critical role to play in the fight for women’s reproductive freedom in this country. We need everyone to let their senators know that we want health reforms that will protect reproductive freedom not put it in peril as the House did with its Stupak-Pitts amendment. The current Senate bill does not include the Stupak-Pitts language, but we are still a long way from victory. If we want to make sure the Senate stands up for women’s reproductive freedom and against the extremist forces that reared their ugly head in the House, we all need to come together and take action right now. Tell your senators to protect women’s ability to make private health care decisions without government interference.
Find more information and take action >>
Restore Fairness to the Immigration System
Posted 10/5/09 - In the aftermath of 9-11, our country has seen a steady erosion of basic human rights. Some of our laws have been denying basic due process to thousands of people in the United States, and many policies discriminate against people on the basis of national origin, race, religion, citizenship or immigration status. We need to change these laws, and ensure that our government upholds the human rights and civil liberties of all people in the US. The ACLU is part of a national campaign asking our government to restore fairness and due process to the broken immigration system.
Watch a 9 minute video, find more information and take action >>
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Indefinite Detention Without Trial: Unnecessary, Unwise, and Unconstitutional
Posted 9/18/09 - The John Adams Project, a joint effort of the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, has asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to halt the military commissions and declare them unconstitutional.
Take Action: We Cannot Imprison People Without Charge or Trial >>
More: Ashcroft Can Be Held Accountable For Post-9/11 Wrongful Detention >>
Learn More: Accountability for Torture >>
ACT NOW! Stop Sentencing Discrimination
Posted 8/21/09 - Current federal sentencing law punishes crack cocaine offenders more severely than any other drug offenders for possession. This disparity has resulted in a disproportionate number of African Americans sentenced under this mandatory minimum law. Numerous judges, medical professionals and civil rights advocates have all called on Congress to end the disparity between crack and powder cocaine sentences, and legislation has now been introduced to do just that. Contact Senator Orrin Hatch and your Representative and urge them to support legislation to end the disparity.
Find out more and take action >>
Take Action: Stop Indefinite Detention Without Charge or Trial
Posted 7/1/09 - A debate over the fundamental character of our democracy is heating up: whether or not we can imprison people for an indefinite amount of time without charging them with a crime and without holding trial.
Find more information and send President Obama and your members of Congress a message >>
3/5/09 - Action Alert: Bill Protectin Constitutional Right to Vote Needs Help
3/2/09 - Action Alert: Oppose Bills Creating Barriers to Voting! |
