The ACLU of Florida: Who We Are, What We Do
What is the ACLU?
The American Civil Liberties Union is a nationwide nonprofit organization of about 400,000 members and supporters. There is a headquarters office in New York and a legislative office in Washington, DC.
The ACLU is organized into individual chapters which cover a geographical area. The chapters in turn are part of the statewide organization, which in turn is part of the national ACLU. Each chapter is run by a Board of Directors which are elected by the members of that chapter. State level directors are chosen by the Boards of each local chapter. The State Boards in turn choose delegates who serve on the national Board of Directors.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida is the state affiliate of the national ACLU. It has nearly 26,000 members and supporters. The state office is in downtown Miami, and there are chapters in 16 communities around the state, including our chapter in Brevard County.
When did the Aclu begin?
The ACLU was founded in 1920 by people who believed that the Bill of Rights was only a piece of paper unless there was a citizen watchdog group seeking to have it enforced. The ACLU of Florida was founded in 1965 in an effort to protect the constitutional rights of all Floridians.
What is the aclu's purpose?
The ACLU seeks to defend and extend individual freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. These include:
* Freedom of speech, assembly and religion
* Separation of church and state
* Due process
* Equal protection under the law for all people
* Reproductive rights
* Freedom from unreasonable search and seizure
* Fair treatment by government
What does the ACLU do?
The ACLU pursues its work in three main areas:
1) Litigation - Filing lawsuits in federal and state courts. The ACLU of Florida has four full-time staff attorneys (including one legislative staff counsel). It also relies on the volunteer efforts of several hundred attorneys around the state.
2) Legislative Work - Mobilizing citizens to support pro-civil liberties laws - and oppose anti-civil liberties laws - in the state legislature and local governments. The ACLU of Florida has a full-time legislative staff counsel who serves as our lobbyist in Tallahassee. The ACLU is nonpartisan, though, and does not endorse political candidates. We do support ballot initiatives that support civil liberties.
3) Public Education - Providing information to the public about citizen rights and what the ACLU is doing to promote them. The ACLU issues press releases, has a speakers bureau, publishes a newsletter and numerous pamphlets, and sponsors public forums and special events. The ACLU of Florida office has an extensive resource center available to the general public and students. There are also resources available in our Brevard Chapter Office.
Where do ACLU policies come from?
The ACLU has developed policies on a myriad of issues. An 80-member national board of directors decides on many of the organizations policies. Policies for state ACLU?s generally are the same as national's but occasionally differ; "Unity but not uniformity" is the watchword. The state board of directors sets policies for the ACLU of Florida. On a day-to-day basis, the staff takes the lead in implementing policies.
How does the ACLU decide to take legal cases?
Most cases come from citizens who contact the State Office in Miami where volunteers advise citizens who feel their rights have been violated. Some cases come from complaints presented to the Chapter Legal Panels, while other cases come from attorneys who approach the ACLU for assistance.
Potential cases are assigned to our staff attorneys or volunteer attorneys for research and legal analysis. A Legal Panel - either at the state or chapter level - comprised of volunteer ACLU attorneys decides which cases should be accepted, subject to ratification by the ACLU of Florida Board of Directors. Emergency authorization to sue may be given by the board president when time is limited.
Where does the ACLU get its money?
Almost totally from its members. The ACLU receives no government funding. We rely on membership dues, tax-deductible contributions and occasional fees from legal cases.
What is the ACLU doing these days?
The ACLU is usually involved in numerous issues, ranging from fighting for gay equality and defending reproductive freedom to combating police misconduct and opposing censorship of the arts. Our newsletter, The Torch, is the best source of news about our activities. The ACLU of Florida web site (www.aclufl.org) also has timely, up-to-date information on our most recent activities.
Does the ACLU use volunteers who are not lawyers?
Yes; in many ways - for help in the office, assisting at special events, participating in our legislative campaigns, as speakers for schools and community groups. Anyone wanting to help should call the Brevard Chapter office (321) 768-6262 for more information or click on the VOLUNTEER link on the left.
How does one become an ACLU member?
Click on the JOIN NOW link on the left.
Anyone can join, and membership dues are only $20 a year, $30 dollars for couples.
"Liberty lies in the hearts of men and women. When it dies there, no constitution, no law, no court can save it."
--Judge Learned Hand
