Latest From ACLU of Washington

The latest content and updates from the ACLU of Washington website.

Conscience Creep: How “Religious Freedom” Spiraled Out of Control

Published: 
Friday, March 14, 2014
Secular Americans and many liberal people of faith have been horrified by the Right’s most recent ploy: “religious freedom” claims that would give conservative business owners license to discriminate. Until Arizona made the national spotlight, the need for lunch counter sit-ins had seemed like a thing of the past. But in reality, advocates for religious privilege have been circling toward this point for some time.
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Legislature passes bill to regulate government drone use

News Release, Published: 
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
EHB 2789, legislation that puts reasonable regulations in place for government use of drones in Washington state, has passed the Senate with a 46-1 vote, and the House has concurred with a bipartisan 77-21 vote.  The bill has gone to the Governor to be signed into law.
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The ACLU-WA and Seattle’s Booking Photo Comparison Software

Published: 
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
The ACLU has long been concerned about the use of facial recognition systems and the broad fishing expeditions for which they can be used.  That’s why the ACLU of Washington worked hard to change the Seattle Police Department’s proposed policy for the Booking Photo Comparison Software (BPCS).
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Liberty Link: Ben Wizner Goes on “The Record” about Surveillance

Published: 
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Ben Wizner is director of the ACLU’s national Speech, Privacy and Technology Project, and is a legal advisor to Edward Snowden.  He has visited Snowden in Moscow and communicates with him over encrypted channels.  Wizner was in Seattle recently and spoke to KUOW host David Hyde on “The Record” about privacy in the digital age.
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Support HB 2789: Reasonable Regulations on Drones

Document, Published: 
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Domestic drones are increasingly being acquired by government agencies such as police departments. But Washington has no regulations on how drones may be used by the government—and in particular what protections need to be in place to protect individual privacy. HB 2789 would put reasonable drone regulations in place—ensuring that Washingtonians can enjoy the benefits of this useful new technology, allowing government agencies to use them for legitimate purposes, and ensuring that the policy debate happens before large numbers of drones fly over our state. Drone
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Briefing on the Reproductive Parity Act to be held today

News Release, Published: 
Monday, March 3, 2014
Today, a combination of Washington State Senate and House Democrats will hold a briefing on the Reproductive Parity Act (RPA) in coalition with women’s rights and civil liberties groups. The briefing is scheduled for 2 p.m. in Senate Hearing Room 1 at the Capitol.
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Liberty Link: For “The Record,” Kathleen Taylor Reflects on Her Career

Published: 
Monday, March 3, 2014
Kathleen Taylor has been executive director of the ACLU of Washington since 1980. Under her leadership, the organization has grown tremendously to become one of the nation’s largest branches of the ACLU, with more than 20,000 members and a staff of 32, plus hundreds of volunteers.
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Bill to Regulate Govt Drone Use to Have Hearing in WA Senate

News Release, Published: 
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
HB 2789, legislation that puts reasonable regulations in place for government use of drones in Washington state, will have a hearing today, February 26, at 6:30 pm before the Senate Law and Justice Committee
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YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES ACT: REMOVING BARRIERS FOR REHABILITATED YOUTH

Document, Published: 
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
The Washington State juvenile justice system is about rehabilitation. Society and our economy benefit when rehabilitated youth reintegrate into society and become law-abiding, tax-paying members of their communities. A major barrier to reintegration is the widespread dissemination and easy public access to generally non-serious juvenile offense records in our state.
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