What Is the ACLU? | History
What is the ACLU and What Does It Do?
Overview of the ACLU
- The ACLU stands for the American Civil Liberties Union, which is the largest public interest law firm in the U.S. that defends individual rights guaranteed by the Constitution and Bill of Rights.
- It operates as a nonprofit organization, relying on volunteers, grants, donations, and membership fees from over 1.6 million members to sustain its activities.
Historical Context
- Founded in 1920 during a period of intense fear of communism, particularly following the Palmer Raids led by President Woodrow Wilson's administration against perceived political radicals.
- The founders included notable figures such as Roger Baldwin, Crystal Eastman, and Helen Keller who aimed to combat injustices like unlawful arrests and violations of civil liberties.
Notable Cases and Achievements
- The ACLU has taken on significant cases throughout history:
- Scopes Monkey Trial (1925): Defended John Scopes for teaching evolution in Tennessee schools.
- Japanese-American Internment: Fought against internment during WWII through landmark cases Hirabayashi v. United States (1943) and Korematsu v. United States (1944).
- Brown v. Board of Education (1954): Collaborated with NAACP to end legalized school segregation.
- Miranda v. Arizona (1966): Established Miranda rights requiring police to inform arrested individuals of their rights.
- Obergefell v. Hodges (2015): Contributed to legalizing same-sex marriage across all states by repealing the Defense of Marriage Act.
Commitment to Nonpartisanship
- The ACLU maintains a nonpartisan stance, defending constitutional rights even when it involves unpopular or controversial issues; exemplified by their defense of neo-Nazis' right to march in Skokie, Illinois in 1977 despite community opposition from Holocaust survivors.
- Their core belief is that if something is a constitutional right, it must be protected regardless of public opinion or controversy surrounding it.
Current Status
- Nearly a century after its founding, the ACLU remains active in advocating for civil liberties across various issues affecting Americans today.