Latest From ACLU of Washington

The Pierce County Council voted unanimously on Aug. 9 to repeal a rule that barred speakers at public meetings from attacking or questioning the motives of council members. The action followed a letter by the ACLU objecting to the policy.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Washington announced today that it is offering free legal representation to anyone in the state who is approached by the FBI during its latest round of "dragnet" interviews of Arabs and Muslims.

The Islamic Education Center of Seattle (IECS) will be able to use a residential property to gather and worship, following arguments by the ACLU that the city did not have a compelling interest to deny the group a permit.

A Thurston County Superior Court judge has ordered the removal of misleading language in the ballot title for I-963, an initiative that would roll back state protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation. The challenge of the ballot title was filed by the ACLU and the Northwest Women’s Law Center.

The House approved and sent to the governor a bill that reforms Washington's convoluted system for restoring voting rights. The measure (HB 1517) will automatically restore the right to vote to citizens who have come out of the criminal justice system.

The ACLU of Washington writes to express its concern over a practice of the Yelm City Council governing public comment periods during council meetings. According to recent press reports, the Council will routinely block discussion of topics -- or even particular words, such as "moratorium" -- that the Council does not wish to hear about. This practice frustrates the entire purpose of a public comment period, which is to allow citizens the opportunity to tell their representatives what they care about. The ability of citizens to state their views about matters of public concern is one of the cornerstones of a free and accountable government. Yelm's practice of silencing public comment violates that principle.

After more than two years of negotiations by the ACLU, two Somali merchants finally are receiving compensation for losses they suffered in a raid by government agents.