Latest News

Federal Court Upholds Transgender People’s Right to Access Medical Treatment in Prison
Friday August 5, 2011
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit upheld the right of transgender people to receive medical care while they are incarcerated. The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Wisconsin and Lambda Legal had challenged a Wisconsin law that prohibited prison doctors from prescribing hormone treatment or sex reassignment surgery to transgender inmates. This was a discriminatory law that cruelly singled out transgender people by denying them – and only them – the medical care they need. Read more…
Press Release: 8/5/2011 - Federal Court Upholds Transgender People’s Right to Access Medical Treatment in Prison
Court Decision: read the full text (PDF)

ACLU of Wisconsin Urges Legislators to Slow Down on Redistricting: Proposals May Pose Violations of Federal Law
Tuesday July 19, 2011
The ACLU of Wisconsin urges the Wisconsin legislature to slow down the rush to redraw state legislative districts so that affected communities have time to fully review and respond to the proposals. Federal law prohibits the drawing of districts that have the effect of diluting minority voting strength. Determining whether a plan dilutes minority voting strength requires careful consideration of a number of factors and alternative plans. That analysis cannot be completed on the timeline contemplated by the legislature. The important task of redrawing of district lines demands deliberation and public input. Rushing the plan through without thorough analysis creates the risk that an illegal plan will be adopted.
Press Release: 7/19/2011 - ACLU of Wisconsin Urges Legislators to Slow Down on Redistricting

Elections and Voting Rights: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
Tuesday July 19, 2011
With special and recall elections scheduled in various parts of Wisconsin in July and August and the recent passage of a "voter id" law, many people have questions about voting procedures. The FAQ below may answer most of voters’ common questions. Perhaps most important, voters should know that the photo identification requirement does not go into effect until 2012. Voters will be asked for identification, but they are not required to provide it at elections in 2011 and will be able to vote if they do not have an id. However, there are some changes to registration and voting procedures that will be in effect for the July and August elections. The Government Accountability Board, which oversees elections in Wisconsin, has more information on the Voter ID law and other aspects of voting.
Fact Sheets (PDF): Wisconsin Voting: Know Your Rights; Voting Rights FAQ (detail); Voting in Wisconsin with a criminal conviction

South Milwaukee Lake Bluff Apartments - Final Chapter in Housing Discrimination Challenge Settled
Monday June 27, 2011
Fair housing advocates announced the settlement of a long-running court challenge to protect the Lake Bluff Apartments, an integrated, affordable and accessible development in South Milwaukee. After a 2009 jury verdict found that tearing down Lake Bluff would have a discriminatory effect in violation of the Fair Housing Act, and after nearly two years of subsequent negotiations, Lake Bluff will remain a diverse and accessible place to live. Read more…
Full Statement on Settlement: 6/27/2011 - Statement
Press Release: 6/27/2011 - Fair Housing Lawsuit Against City of South Milwaukee Settled

Racial Profiling Law Could Have Helped Cops End Biased Policing
Wednesday June 22, 2011
Today Governor Walker signed a bill repealing a law that took effect January 1, 2011 that gave Wisconsin law enforcement managers a new tool to identify biased policing during traffic stops. The new law set up a system to collect traffic stop data and have the Office of Justice Assistance analyze it to determine if minority motorists were being stopped or searched disproportionately compared to non-minority motorists. In response to the repeal of the traffic stop data collection law, the ACLU of Wisconsin will begin an effort to collect the stories from individuals who have experienced biased policing. Read more…
Press Release: 6/22/2011 – Racial Profiling Law Could Have Helped Cops End Biased Policing

Domestic Partner Registry Not a Violation of State Same-Sex Marriage Ban
Monday June 20, 2011
Judge Daniel Moeser resoundingly rejected today an attack on Wisconsin’s Domestic Partner Registry brought by Board members of Wisconsin Family Action, an organization whose members pushed for Wisconsin’s anti-Marriage constitutional amendment in 2006. Despite securing passage of the amendment by assuring voters that domestic partnerships would still be allowed, the Wisconsin Family Action plaintiffs asserted that the anti-Marriage amendment prohibited the Domestic Partner law passed by the legislature in 2008 to provide crucial but very limited protections to same-sex couples. Read more…
Press release: 6/20/2011 – Court Dismisses Challenge to Wisconsin’s Domestic Partner Law
Letter: 6/20/2011 – Court Decision and Order

ACLU of WI, American Civil Liberties Union (national) and Disability Rights WI Allege Voucher Program Discriminates on Basis of Disability: Groups Request Federal Investigation
Tuesday June 7, 2011
The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Wisconsin Foundation, and Disability Rights Wisconsin filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division charging discriminatory practices in Milwaukee’s private voucher schools have led to an egregious segregation of students with disabilities. The complaint was filed against the State of Wisconsin, its Department of Public Instruction and two voucher schools. The groups say that Wisconsin has failed to hold taxpayer-funded private voucher schools accountable for serving children with disabilities, and has created a program that segregates and isolates children with disabilities. Read more...
Press release: 6/7/2011 – Civil Rights Advocates Allege Voucher Program Discriminates on Basis of Disability: Groups Request Federal Investigation
Complaint to DOJ: Cover letter; full complaint; exhibits

Circuit Court Decision on Open Meetings Law Violations Checks Abuse of Power
Friday May 27, 2011
On May 26, Dane County Circuit Judge Mariann Sumi invalidated a bill passed by the legislature in March, taking away most public employees’ collective bargaining rights. Judge Sumi based her decision on evidence that lawmakers violated Wisconsin’s open meetings law when it voted on the bill with less than two hours public notice. Criticisms by legislators, attorneys and others that it was wrong for Judge Sumi to invalidate a state law – some going so far as to claim that judges have no business reviewing legislative enactments – show a shocking disregard of our system of checks and balances, and are dangerous to a society built upon the rule of law. Read more...
Press Release: 5/27/2011 – Circuit Court Decision on Open Meetings Law Violations Checks Abuse of Power

ACLU of Wisconsin Testifies Against Bill that Would Limit Private Insurance Coverage for Abortion Services
Wednesday May 25, 2011
The Wisconsin Senate Committee on Public Health, Human Resources and Revenue held a hearing on Senate Bill 92, a bill that would ban private insurance companies that provide abortion coverage from participating in future heath care exchanges promised by the Affordable Care Act (recent federal health care reform). The ACLU of Wisconsin was there to testify against the bill because we feel it interferes in women's private medical decisions by taking away insurance coverage for consumers who need comprehensive reproductive care. Read more…
Testimony: 5/25/2011 – ACLU of Wisconsin Urges Senate Public Health Committee to Reject the Proposed Ban on Private Health Insurance for Abortion Services

ACLU Opposes Discriminatory Lawsuit Challenging Wisconsin's Domestic Partner Law
Friday May 20, 2011
The American Civil Liberties Union filed a friend-of-the-court brief opposing the legal challenge to overturn Wisconsin’s law granting limited domestic partnership protections to same-sex couples. The ACLU’s brief was filed on behalf of five couples who stand to lose crucial protections such as hospital visitation, the ability to make certain decisions about medical care and to access family medical leave if the law is overturned. The law is being challenged by an anti-LGBT organization that contends that the law grants same-sex couples a substantially similar status to marriage, which is barred by the Wisconsin Constitution. The same organization originally campaigned to secure the marriage amendment’s passage, claiming at the time that domestic partnerships would not be affected.
Press release: 5/20/2011 – ACLU Opposes Discriminatory Lawsuit Challenging Wisconsin's Domestic Partner Law
Brief of Amici Curiae: Brief of Amici Curiae

ACLU Urges Wisconsin Senate to Reject Unnecessary Photo ID Bill Without Reasonable Improvements
Friday May 20, 2011
The ACLU of Wisconsin believes that Wisconsin is poised to wrongly and unconstitutionally disfranchise many eligible voters. In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, ACLU of WI Director Chris Ahmuty mentioned two examples of amendments that the Senate majority tabled. One amendment would have clarified how to proceed when the voter’s name on his/her photo ID and poll list are not exactly identical. Another amendment would have created a “fail safe” provision allowing indigent persons who are completely unable to obtain a photo ID to vote. Ahmuty‟s letter chided Fitzgerald for ignoring ways to improve the bill. He wrote, “a better version of the bill will mitigate the harm this legislation will cause.”
Press Release: 5/20/2011 – ACLU Urges Wisconsin Senate to Reject Unnecessary Photo ID Bill Without Reasonable Improvements

PETA Protest in Milwaukee OK’d by City Attorney, ACLU of WI Responds
Thursday May 6, 2011
On Wednesday May 7, Milwaukee City Attorney Grant Langley recognized the right of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals to demonstrate outside of a Menomonee Valley slaughterhouse, despite the objections of city Alderman Bob Donovan. A permit has been issued to the group for this Thursday’s demonstration. “Alderman Donovan has a right to express his disagreement with PETA and their methods, and he certainly doesn’t have to watch their protest if he finds in unpleasant, but he doesn’t have a right to trample on the Constitution,” said ACLU of WI Executive Director Chris Ahmuty. Read more…
Press Release: 5/6/2011 – ACLU of WI Applauds Milwaukee City Attorney for Protecting PETA’s First Amendment Rights

Milwaukee Coal Plant’s Conversion to Gas a Big Step for Environmental Justice
Thursday May 5, 2011
Applause for We Energies’ announcement on May 5 that it will take the first steps to convert the Menomonee Valley coal plant to natural gas. This action has the potential to significantly improve the Milwaukee community's air quality and the health of its residents by reducing dangerous air pollution. “We can all breathe a little easier knowing that We Energies is taking this first step to clean up the plant,” stated Karyn Rotker, Senior Staff Attorney with ACLU of Wisconsin, “This is one of the state’s dirtiest plants, in the midst of communities of color, and we are glad those communities will benefit from a transition to a cleaner fuel source.” Read more…
Press Release: 5/5/2011 – Cleaner Valley Coalition: We Energies Takes a Big Step in the Right Direction

Milwaukee’s School Voucher Scheme Doesn’t Work: Legislators Should Reject AB 92 and AB 94
Wednesday May 4, 2011
The ACLU of Wisconsin wrote a letter to the chairs of the Joint Finance Committee expressing concerns about two bills that would waste tax dollars on Milwaukee’s failed school voucher program. Assembly Bill 92 (PDF) would lift the program enrollment cap and allow private schools anywhere in Milwaukee County to choose to participate. AssemblyBill 94 (PDF) makes several cosmetic changes to financial rules affecting the program. Read more…
Press Release: 5/4/2011 – “ACLU of Wisconsin Calls on Legislators to Stop Wasting Precious Tax Dollars on Failed School Voucher Program”
Letter: 5/4/2011 – Joint Finance Committee Co-Chairs Senator Darling and Representative Vos

Recounts Shed Light on Elections Process
Wednesday April 20, 2011
In light of this afternoon’s request by the Kloppenburg campaign for a recount in the Supreme Court election, the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin affirms the right of candidates to pursue recounts as state law allows. The ACLU traditionally does not call for or participate in recounts. However we believe that recounts can shed welcome light on the electoral process and give Wisconsin voters confidence in the results of elections and municipal procedures. Read more…
Press Release: 4/20/2011 – Recounts Shed Light on Elections Process: A recount in a close election is the legal right of candidates (PDF)

Environmental Justice Groups Object to WisDOT’s Discriminatory Failure to Include Transit in Zoo Interchange Plans
Tuesday April 05, 2011
The ACLU of Wisconsin joined other environmental justice groups like the Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin and Midwest Environmental Advocates in opposing the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s plan to continue to expand highway access via the Zoo Interchange while cutting transit spending. As recipients of federal funding, the state cannot have programs that have a discriminatory effect. The WisDOT’s transportation funding and policy decisions are leading toward more roads for car owners and fewer transportation options for people who depend on public transportation. Read more…
Press Release: 4/5/2011 - Environmental Justice Groups Object to WisDOT’s Discriminatory Failure to Include Transit in Zoo Interchange Plans (PDF)
Comments: 4/4/2011 – Comments to William Mohr, Mega Project Manager, WI DOT SE Transportation Region, Waukesha (PDF)

Yard Signs Promoting or Opposing Recalls Are Free Speech
Friday April 1, 2011
Many cities, towns and villages around Wisconsin have ordinances that regulate signs on private property. They are usually justified on grounds of aesthetics and traffic safety. If these ordinances just limit the size of the signs or how close they are to the street, they do not impermissibly infringe on freedom of speech. However, occasionally ordinances of this type prohibit property owners from placing political signs, in which case they are clearly unconstitutional
Press release: 4/01/2011 - Yard Signs Promoting or Opposing Recalls Are Free Speech (PDF)
Read the original ruling: 4/01/2011 – Decision and Order Granting Plaintiffs Summary Judgement (PDF)

ACLU of WI Calls Governor Walker’s Fantastic Math Part of National Attempt to Privatize Public Education
Thursday March 17, 2011
The Governor’s privatization ideology appears to have blinded him to the stark realities Wisconsin school children will face if a budget is passed with a $834 million cut in school aids over the course of the biennium. Walker’s de-funding scheme coupled with a costly and wasteful expansion of the failed private school voucher program in Milwaukee and independent charter schools statewide will privatize public education in Wisconsin. Read more…
Press release: 3/17/2011- ACLU of WI Calls Governor Walker’s Fantastic Math Part of National Attempt to Privatize Public Education (PDF)

ACLU of WI Letter to Wisconsin Department of Administration Demands Fair Access to Capitol Building
Monday February 28, 2001
Today the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin in a letter to Wisconsin Department of Administration Secretary Michael Huebsch insisted that the Secretary ensure fair access to the Capitol. The Department has restricted access to the Capitol by citizens wishing to exercise their rights to free speech and assembly. The ACLU's letter reads in part, "Prohibiting protestors on either side of the debate from entering the Capitol during normal business hours or during legislative hearings or sessions, while allowing others with 'business' in the Capitol to enter, is manifestly content-based and, hence presumptively unconstitutional." Read more...
Press release: 2/28/2011 - ACLU of WI Insists Wisconsin Department of Administration Give Citizens Fair Access to Capitol Building (PDF)
Letter to Department of Administration: 2/28/2011 – RE: Rules for protesters and members of the public in Capitol Building (PDF)

Legal Observers Protect Rights to Assemble and Speak
Friday February 18, 2011
As protests have sprung up around Wisconsin this week, the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin Foundation has organized specially trained, neutral observers to be witnesses to interactions between police and demonstrators. With more protesters on both sides of the public debate over the budget repair bill expected this weekend, the ACLU will continue to have observers monitor the demonstrations and the law enforcement response. The ACLU has also widely distributed information about protesters’ rights and responsibilities by handing out its popular “bust cards” at protests and by posting on internet and social media sites all week. Read more…
Press release: 2/18/2011 – ACLU of WI Legal Observers Protect Right to Assemble and Speak (PDF)

ACLU of WI Opposes Restrictions on Public Employees' First Amendment Rights
Thursday February 17, 2011
The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin urges the State Legislature to reject those portions of the budget repair bill that curtail government employees’ rights to organize and collectively bargain over the terms and conditions of their employment. These labor rights are aspects of the First Amendment rights of freedom of association and speech. Private and public employees alike, through their association with other persons in a labor union, must have the ability to seek compensation, benefits and other working conditions through collective bargaining with their employers. Read More...
Press release: 2/17/2011 – ACLU Opposes Restrictions on Public Employees’ First Amendment Rights (PDF)

Federal Appeals Court Hears Arguments In Case Defending Transgender People’s Right To Access Medical Treatment in Prison
Monday February 7, 2011
Today the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit heard oral arguments about the rights of transgender inmates in Wisconsin prisons. The ACLU, the ACLU of Wisconsin and Lambda Legal sued the state on behalf of transgender inmates, some of whom had been receiving hormone treatment in Wisconsin prisons for years. “The district court correctly struck down a discriminatory law that denied transgender people, and no one else, crucial care for a serious medical condition,” said John Knight, senior staff attorney with the ACLU Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Project. “We hope that the court of appeals affirms this ruling and recognizes that medical treatment decisions must be based on medical, rather than political, justifications.” In 2005, the state of Wisconsin passed a law that barred prison doctors from providing transgender inmates medically necessary hormone therapy or sex reassignment surgery while in state custody. The court case got media mentions in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, a blog of the Capitol Times and Common Dreams.
Press release: 2/7/2011 - Federal Court Hears Arguments In Case Defending Transgender People’s Right To Access Medical Treatment in Prison (PDF)
Audio: 2/7/2011 – Raw audio of appeals court arguments

Voter ID Law Would Disenfranchise Citizens, Not Fix Illegal Votes
Wednesday January 26, 2011
The new session of the Wisconsin Legislature has barely begun and legislators are pushing a bill that will require all voters to present a government-issued photo ID every time they go to the polls. The bill (Senate Bill 6 - PDF) will be heard by the Senate Committee on Transportation and Elections Jan. 26. The ACLU has opposed these deeply flawed laws in other states. But the law as proposed in Wisconsin is the worst and most restrictive we've ever seen. To deny potentially thousands of voters the right to freely cast a ballot to fix a non-existent problem is unconscionable in a free society. Read more…
Press release: 1/26/2011 – ACLU of WI Opposes Voter ID Proposal (SB 6): Restrictive Photo ID Requirements for Voting Will Disenfranchisement Eligible Voters, Not Fix Illegal Votes (PDF)
Testimony: 1/26/2011 – ACLU of WI Strongly Opposes the Passage of Senate Bill 6 Requiring a Photo Identification Card to Cast a Ballot in Wisconsin (PDF)

Belleville School Board Votes Unanimously to Keep Challenged Book in English Curriculum
Monday January 24, 2011
The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin applauds the Belleville School District in their unanimous decision to keep a challenged book in the ninth grade English curriculum. The school board demonstrated patience and courage to recognize the importance of both due process and the need for relevant and contemporary literature in the classroom. Over 200 community members attended the hearing: the majority wore green "Keep the Book" stickers in a show of support. Read more…
Press release: 1/24/2011 - ACLU of WI Applauds Belleville Book Decision: School Board Votes Unanimously to Keep Challenged Book in English Curriculum (PDF)

ACLU of Wisconsin Urges Circuit Court to Allow Registered Domestic Partners to Speak in Support of Law
October 1, 2010
The American Civil Liberties Union filed a motion before a Dane County Circuit Court on behalf of five couples asking that they be allowed to participate in a lawsuit seeking to overturn Wisconsin’s law granting limited domestic partnership protections to same-sex couples, so that they may defend the law. The law is being challenged by an anti-gay organization that contends that the law grants same-sex couples the same status as marriage, which is barred by the Wisconsin Constitution. Read more…
Press Release: 10/1/2010 - Couples Seek To Help Defend Lawsuit Challenging Wisconsin’s Domestic Partner Law (PDF)

UW Milwaukee Police Conduct Report Leaves Unanswered Questions, Says ACLU of WI
Thursday August 26, 2010
On March 4th, students at the UW-Milwaukee campus gathered to rally over the increase of tuition rates. When they took their message to the University's administration building, police and protesters had a confrontation and students were arrested and ticketed. The ACLU of WI called for an investigation to review the use of force by campus police against protesters. However, the partial release of a report on police conduct by law enforcement experts and the Vice Chancellor leaves questions unanswered. “We recognize that officers have a great deal of responsibility and work in often difficult circumstances," said Executive Director Chris Ahmuty. "Difficult circumstances do not diminish their responsibility to use constitutional police methods.” Read more…
Press Release: 8/26/2010 - ACLU of Wisconsin Responds to Partial Release of Report on UW Milwaukee Police Actions During March 4th Incident (PDF)

ACLU of WI Wins Lawsuit Over Deficient Health are in WI Women’s Prisons
Thursday August 20, 2010
The ACLU of Wisconsin has filed papers seeking court approval of an agreement to settle a longstanding class-action lawsuit charging that grossly deficient medical and mental health care jeopardized the lives of female prisoners at the state’s largest women’s prison. As part of the agreement, state officials have agreed to implement a number of significant structural improvements aimed at ensuring that female prisoners receive the same levels of mental health care as the state’s male prisoners. “Today’s settlement is a real victory for all female prisoners at TCI who will no longer have to suffer needlessly in a system that fails to comply with the requirements of the U.S. Constitution,” said Gabriel Eber, staff attorney with the ACLU National Prison Project. “This settlement will lead to dramatic improvements in the quality of health care prisoners will receive.” Read more…
Press Release: 8/20/2010 - ACLU Settles Lawsuit Charging Inadequate Care at Wisconsin Women’s Prison (PDF)

ACLU of WI Will Support State’s Domestic Partner Registry
Friday August 20, 2010
The ACLU of Wisconsin will continue its work to ensure that same-sex couples maintain the basic protections provided in the state’s new domestic partnership registry. “We expected a challenge to the registry in a lower court,” said Chris Ahmuty, ACLU of Wisconsin’s executive director. “We’re fully prepared to help defend the state’s registry so that same-sex couples in Wisconsin can have access to the basic, although limited, legal rights their families need. While the Wisconsin Family Action and the Alliance Defense Fund will attempt to compare the domestic partnership registry to the legal definition of marriage, same-sex couples will seek to demonstrate a factual record of how the protections offered by the registry are quite limited and in no way violate the marriage ban.” Read more…
Press Release: 8/20/2010 - ACLU of WI Will Support State’s Domestic Partner Registry: Same-sex Couples Will Show Registry is Not Marriage (PDF)

Energy Facilities in Milwaukee Need to Consider Minority and Low-Income Community Impact in Planning Decisions
Wednesday August 11, 2010
On Monday, the ACLU of Wisconsin Foundation's legal department joined the Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin and the Midwest Environmental Advocates to request that the Wisconsin Public Service Commission address the disproportionate adverse impacts of electric generating facilities on minority and low-income communities in Milwaukee. The organizations seek to ensure that the PSC address these environmental justice issues in deciding whether to retire, "mothball," or upgrade existing electric generating units. Read more…
Press Release: 8/11/2010 – Advocates Request Wisconsin Public Service Commission to Address Environmental Justice Impacts of Power Plants (PDF)
Document: Comments of American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin Foundation, Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin, Inc., and Midwest Environmental Advocates (PDF)

Milwaukee Alder Donovan’s Ill-Conceived Surveillance Scheme Amateurish
Tuesday August 10, 2010
According to media reports in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and his own press release (PDF), Milwaukee Alderman Robert Donovan has procured a recycled armored truck equipped with surveillance cameras for his crime fighting group “Operation Impact.” The Milwaukee Police Department will accept the vehicle, although they did not ask for it, according to a MPD spokesperson. The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin is concerned that the Alderman appears to be offering his constituents publicity rather than the professional policing they deserve. Read more…
Press Release: 8/10/2010 – ACLU of Wisconsin Calls Ald. Donovan’s Ill-Conceived Surveillance Scheme Amateurish (PDF)

New Berlin Planning Commission Should Allow, Not Limit, Public Comments on Housing Development
Tuesday July 27, 2010
The New Berlin Plan Commission in the midst of the recent controversy over affordable housing in New Berlin altered its bylaws to prohibit virtually everyone except residents and land owners from speaking during the open comment portion of its public meetings. In response the ACLU of Wisconsin has written the Commission chiding it for engaging in censorship that will undermine the planning process. Read more...
Press Release: 7/27/2010 - New Berlin Plan Commission Censorship Violates
Free Speech (PDF)
Letter: 7/26/2010 - Bylaws Change Prohibiting Comments at Plan Commission (PDF)

Police GPS Tracking Question Left Unanswered by WI Supreme Court; ACLU Seeks Legislative Response
Tuesday July 20, 2010
On Tuesday July 20th, the Wisconsin Supreme Court sidestepped the question of whether there are any constitutional limits on police use of global positioning system devices to track people in their cars. Instead, the Court decided that a court order obtained by the police in the case of State v. Sveum satisfied the warrant requirement of the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the Wisconsin Constitution. Read more…
Press Release: 7/20/2010 - Wisconsin Supreme Court Decision Leaves Unanswered Questions About GPS Tracking; ACLU Seeks Legislative Response (PDF)

ACLU of Wisconsin settles lawsuit against City of Milwaukee Police Censorship of Gay-Themed Play
Thursday July 15, 2010
On July 14, 2010, the Milwaukee Gay Arts Center (MGAC) received a check for $20,000 from the City of Milwaukee in settlement of a federal lawsuit filed on its behalf by the ACLU of Wisconsin. The suit alleged that the City violated the First Amendment by shutting down “Naked Boys Singing,” a musical play with gay themes that has been produced around the country, after receiving complaints from a citizen who objected to its content. “Good theater sometimes challenges convention,” said Paul Masterson, Executive Director of the Milwaukee Gay Arts Center. “The police should not shut down a play because some people find it offensive.” Read more…
Press Release: 7/15/2010 - Lawsuit Over Police Censorship of Gay-Themed Play Settled: City Pays Milwaukee Gay Arts Center and Clarifies Theater License Requirements (PDF)

ACLU of Wisconsin Issues Travel Advisory for State of Arizona
Wednesday June 30, 2010
The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin alerts Wisconsin residents to potential threats to the constitutional rights and civil liberties of individuals planning to travel or stay in Arizona. The ACLU has prepared an informational card for the public entitled, “What to Do if You’re Stopped by Police, Immigration Agents or the FBI.” While the card provides information that applies throughout the United States in any encounter with law enforcement officials, individuals are particularly advised to download and read this card before traveling to Arizona. Read more…
Press Release: 7/2/2010 - ACLU of Wisconsin Issues Travel Advisory for State of Arizona (PDF)
Bust Card: English or en Espanol (PDF)

Wisconsin Supreme Court’s Decision on Marriage Amendment Referendum: ACLU of Wisconsin Responds
Wednesday June 30, 2010
The ACLU maintains that the marriage amendment's second clause only prohibits 'marriage by another name' which confers all the benefits, protections, and responsibilities of civil marriages. The Court's decision means the fight for recognition of same sex domestic relationships will continue to advance, a fight in which the ACLU will continue to participate vigorously. Read more...
Press Release: 6/30/2010 – ACLU of Wisconsin Statement on McConkey Decision (PDF)

Mosinee and Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau Schools Must Defend Student Speech
Friday June 18, 2010
Wisconsin students have the right to free speech, even when it causes offense. In the recent examples of students wearing controversial t-shirts in Mosinee and Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau schools, the ACLU of Wisconsin underscores the need for a greater understanding of student expression rights and clearer policies on discipline for disorderly conduct. Read more…
Press Release: 6/18/2010 – Wisconsin Students Have Free Expression Rights (PDF)

ACLU of Wisconsin Urges Juvenile Corrections Review Committee to Focus on Childrens’ Well-Being in Making Decisions about Juvenile Facilities
Thursday June 17, 2010
“A core mission of the state schools is to build the competency for responsible and productive community living of these young men,” said ACLU of Wisconsin Executive Director Christopher Ahmuty. “While there may be budgetary concerns, this committee’s decisions must prioritize the needs of youth who are under the state’s control, and who will eventually reenter our communities.”
Press Release: 6/17/2010 - ACLU of Wisconsin Statement on Juvenile Facilities (PDF)

In Honor of Mother's Day, Do Mom a Favor - Take Action to Ratify CEDAW for Women's Equality Worldwide
Sunday May 9, 2010
Happy Mother's Day from the ACLU of Wisconsin! Today, you can do your mom and women around the world a favor. The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) is a proposed international treaty dedicated to gender equality and while the U.S. played a major role in drafting the treaty and President Carter signed it in 1980, we are one of only seven countries that has not ratified it. For the first time there is a strategic, well-resourced coalition leading the ratification effort, and we have strong support within the current administration and the U.S. Senate. But getting 67 Senators to vote yes to ratification won’t be easy and we will need your help over the next 5-7 months. Contact your U.S. Senators and urge them to support CEDAW. Read more...
Video: Young people from Milwaukee created this video to help spread the word

ACLU of Wisconsin Responds to Juneau County District Attorney’s Attack on New Comprehensive Sexuality Education Law
Tuesday March 4, 2010
The district attorney in Juneau County has made an ill-advised attack on Wisconsin’s newly passed comprehensive sexuality education law. The Healthy Youth Act raises the state standards for human growth and development curricula. But the letter from District Attorney Southworth erroneously compares teaching the facts about reproduction and contraception to the sexual assault of children. “District Attorney Southworth has taken it upon himself to threaten possible prosecution of public school teachers in the county if they implement the new standards that require medically accurate and age-appropriate sex education,” said ACLU of Wisconsin Executive Director Christopher Ahmuty. Read more…
Press Release: 4/6/2010 - ACLU of Wisconsin Responds to Ill-Advised Attack on New Comprehensive Sex Education Law in Juneau County (PDF)
Juneau County District Attorney letter: 2009 Wisconsin Act 134 – Sex Education Mandates (PDF)

Wisconsin Federal Court Says Transgender People Must Be Allowed Medical Treatment in Prison
Wednesday March 31, 2010
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin Wednesday struck down a law that barred transgender people from receiving medical care while they are incarcerated. The American Civil Liberties Union and Lambda Legal challenged the law in January 2006 on behalf of transgender prisoners, some of whom had been receiving hormones in Wisconsin prisons for years prior to the passage of the law. The lawsuit charged that it is a violation of the Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection as well as the guarantee against cruel and unusual punishment to bar transgender inmates from access to individualized medical care. The legal groups based their challenge on federal case law that establishes that health care providers must determine proper treatment for all prison inmates. Read more…
Press Release: 4/1/2010 - Wisconsin Federal Court Says Transgender People Must Be Allowed Medical Treatment in Prison (PDF)
U.S. District Court decision: Sundstrom v. Frank

Slow Water Flow to Suburbs, Community Groups Urge
Tuesday March 9, 2010
Environmental and civil rights organizations are joining forces to urge that Water Supply planning consider meaningful alternatives to facilitating the continuation of unequal and unsustainable development patterns. The organizations object to the continuing failure by regional planners to consider whether alternatives to current sprawling land use patterns would be better for the environment, and more beneficial to communities of color and low income communities.
Press Release: 3/9/2010 - Slow Water Flow to Suburbs (PDF)
Document: Comments regarding the socioeconomic impact analysis for the water supply study (PDF)

ACLU of Wisconsin Calls for Public Investigation of Police Confrontation at UW-Milwaukee
Friday March 5, 2010
Today, Christopher Ahmuty, Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin issued the following statement regarding an incident at the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee. “Demonstrators who were arrested and may have been ticketed deserve a fair review of their cases, so that any who were within their rights are not forced to go to court. The ACLU of Wisconsin will consider assisting ticketed demonstrators with meritorious defenses.” Read more…
Press Release: 3/5/2010 - UWM Chapman Hall Incident (PDF)

ACLU of Wisconsin introduces Milwaukee and Madison bust cards with local resources
The ACLU of Wisconsin Foundation works to educate individuals about their rights with police and what to do if they feel they have been racially profiled. New local bust cards are pocket references on what to do when encountering police. These cards now feature information on Milwaukee and Madison resources for people to get help in filing police complaints. More bust cards will be issued soon for other areas of the state. For more information on getting a bust card made for your region or to schedule a Know Your Rights workshop in your area, contact Emilo De Torre at (414) 272-4032 x 23.
Bust card with local contacts for Milwaukee (PDF)
Bust card with local contacts for Madison (PDF)

ACLU of Wisconsin Asks Wisconsin Senate to Vote Favorably on Bill to Limit Race-Based School Team Names and Mascots
Monday March 1, 2010
Today the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin asked Wisconsin State Senate majority leader, Russell Decker (D-Schofield), to schedule a vote on legislation to address discriminatory race-based school team nicknames, logos and mascots. Last Thursday, the Wisconsin Assembly passed an amended version of such legislation with bipartisan support. Read more…
Press release: 3/1/2010 - ACLU of Wisconsin asks Wisconsin Senate to vote favorably on bill to limit race-based school team names and mascots (PDF)
Letter to Senator Decker: 3/1/2010 – Sen. Decker RE AB 35 (PDF)

Big Brother Honadel’s Call to Fingerprint Poor Children Gives Businessmen a Bad Name
Monday February 15, 2010
Today State Representative Mark Honadel (R-South Milwaukee) sent out a media release announcing his plan to introduce legislation to require fingerprinting of poor children in the Wisconsin Shares day care program every day at check-in and check-out. The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin opposes treating our children – including poor children -- like parts at an auto supply store or boxes of cereal at a grocery store.
Read more…
Press release: 02/15/2010 - Big Brother Honadel’s Call to Fingerprint Poor Children Gives Businessmen a Bad Name (PDF)

ACLU and Electronic Frontier Foundation Urge Wisconsin Supreme Court to Require Warrants for GPS Tracking
Friday February 12, 2010
The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Wisconsin and the Electronic Frontier Foundation filed a friend-of-the-court brief with the Wisconsin Supreme Court on Friday urging the justices to find that, when the police place a global positioning system tracking device on a car to obtain information on its location and movements without a valid warrant, they violate the Wisconsin constitution.
Press release: 02/12/2010 - ACLU and Electronic Frontier Foundation Urge Wisconsin Supreme Court Require Warrants for GPS Tracking (PDF)
Amicus brief: 02/04/2010 – State of Wisconsin v. Michael A. Sveum (PDF)

ACLU of Wisconsin Applauds the Passage of the Healthy Youth Act
Friday January 29, 2010
The ACLU of Wisconsin applauds the passage of the Healthy Youth Act, the legislation that will raise state standards for public school human growth and development instruction. The Healthy Youth Act will give Wisconsin teens the tools they need to make healthy and responsible life decisions by providing comprehensive sexuality education that is age appropriate and medically accurate. Read more…

ACLU Responds to Milwaukee School Mayoral Takeover Proposal
Wednesday January 6, 2010
The proposal to give MPS governance to the mayor is a scheme that won’t remedy Wisconsin’s failure to provide an adequate education to far too many of Milwaukee’s children. Rather than spending time and effort to push through a controversial takeover program, the Governor, Mayor and state legislators need to comply with the state Constitutional obligation to ensure that all Milwaukee children have equal opportunity in education. Read more...
Press release: 01/06/2010 - ACLU of Wisconsin Statement in Support of Legislative Action on Public Schools Now
Press release: 01/04/2010 - ACLU of Wisconsin Opposes Proposed Mayoral Takeover of Milwaukee Public Schools, Calls on Elected Officials to Focus on Adequacy
Testimony: 01/04/2010 - ACLU of Wisconsin Urges Senate Education Committee to Focus on Adequacy

One Step Closer to Fixing Inadequate Care at WI Women’s Prison
Wednesday November 25, 2009
A federal judge denied a request by Wisconsin state officials to dismiss a class action lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Wisconsin and the law firm of Jenner & Block charging that grossly deficient health care and mental health treatment jeopardizes the lives of women prisoners at a state prison. Read more…
Press release: 11/25/2009 - ACLU Lawsuit Charging Inadequate Care at Women’s Prison to Proceed (PDF)

Medical Marijuana Act Introduced in Wisconsin Legislature
Monday November 16, 2009
The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin joined Representative Mark Pocan, Senator Jon Erpenbach, patients and advocates in a press conference for the Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act (AB 554 and SB 368), a popular and common sense measure to reform laws on the medical use of marijuana. Read more…
Press release: 11/16/2009 – ACLU of Wisconsin Supports Progress in Medical Marijuana Reform (PDF)

Victory! Challenge to Domestic Partner Registry Thrown Out by State Supreme Court
Wednesday November 4, 2009
On Wednesday, the American Civil Liberties Union celebrated a decision by the Wisconsin Supreme Court to dismiss a challenge to the state’s recently-enacted domestic partnership registry. Read more...
Press release: 11/04/2009 - Wisconsin Supreme Court Dismisses Challenge to Domestic Partnership Registry: Committed Couples Can Continue to Enjoy Limited Protections Offered by Registry

ACLU of WI Statement: Denying H1N1 Vaccines to Prisoners Would Harm Public Health
Friday October 30, 2009
Statements encouraging state health officials to put the health of not just prisoners, but by extension the prison staff, correctional officers and their families in jeopardy by denying H1N1 vaccine to prisoners including pregnant female inmates garnered a response from the executive director of the ACLU of Wisconsin. Read more…
Press release: 10/30/2009 - ACLU of Wisconsin Says Media Hype and Politician’s Criticism of H1N1 Vaccine for Prisoners Harms Public Health