ACLU of Wisconsin Madison in the News

2007

Statement on the Death Penalty - ACLU of Wisconsin Madison Area Office Community Advocate's statements on the death penalty referendum given to greater Milwaukee legislators and members of the Wisconsin Women's Network and the Milwaukee League of Women Voters, February 3 2007.

Police to Use Video Cameras Downtown - " A civil rights advocate expressed concern. Police should have a clear policy about storing and using the footage shot by the cameras, Stacy Harbaugh, community advocate for the Madison chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, said Tuesday. 'When any organization doesn't have a policy that really sufficiently protects citizens' privacy, that's when trouble happens,' Harbaugh said." (WSJ - 01/24/2007)

State Makes Money by Selling You: Lists of Drivers, Hunters, Voters Swell Wisconsin Coffers - “Social Security numbers and other personal data are used by criminals for online thefts and purchases charged to others. Even if that doesn't happen, the information the government sells about you can be used to fill your mailbox with advertising or political campaign material.” (WSJ – 01/21/2007)

2006

Imagined Christmas Conflict - “The ACLU hasn't protested the religious scenes in the state Capitol (which now includes a placard from the Freedom From Religion Foundation) and it isn't involved in the Chicago controversy.” (WSJ – 12/04/2006)

Death Penalty Not Foreseen Soon Here Despite Referendum Passing Tuesday -

“However, Stacy Harbaugh, community advocate at the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin's Madison office, said the ACLU and other members of a coalition that opposed the referendum would continue to fight a death penalty bill every step of the way. ‘This was introduced very late, and we did not have a lot of time to organize. We knew it would be a hard fight from the beginning, due to the biased nature of the question, with the DNA clause,’ Harbaugh said.” (TCT – 11/08/2006)

Students Protest the Death Penalty - "The ACLU also maintains the death penalty is too costly and does not deter crime. 'In general, we think its expensive, [and] we think it’s inappropriate for the government to be executing people,' said Ben Evans, secretary of the UW chapter. '[T]here is always the problem of innocent people being executed.'" (Badger Herald - 11/02/06)

ACLU Hoping to Sway Death Penalty Referendum - “The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin says it's sent 100 DVD's to libraries across the state in an effort to sway the upcoming vote on the death penalty. The DVD is a movie about six people wrongfully convicted of crimes and placed on death row before new evidence freed them.” (WMTV 15 – 10/17/06)

Life-or-Death Debate: Activists are fighting against capital punishment referendum - "The district attorneys of the two largest counties are both involved," Chheda said. "And we have a steering committee that is trying to grow the anti-death penalty movement. We have support from liberals and conservatives, from Democrats and Republicans." (TCT - 10/11/06)

Joint Black, Latino Advocacy Urged - "Stacy Harbaugh, American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin community advocate for the Madison area, said despite tension and fighting among the races in some local schools, 'youth who get it bridge the gap in a way that doesn't happen in the adult community.'" (TCT 10/10/2006)

WORT A Public Affair talk show - Featured guests include Stacy Harbaugh, ACLU-WI Madison Community Advocate; Darby Puelielli, Christian Formation Director of St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church of Madison; and Ron Keine, death row exoneree. Audio link for one hour show. (10/06/06)

Advise Fairness in Justice System - "Although the advisory referendum does allow for a bit of interpretation, the apparent goal of this legislation is to punish more severely those found guilty through DNA evidence" opinion piece from ACLU-UW student chapter president. (Badger Herald, Opinion - 10/06/06)

Free at Last: Death row inmate's tale makes case against death penalty - "He shared his story with dozens of people at St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church Monday night as part of a tour across Wisconsin. He hopes to get people to think about his story before they vote Nov. 7 on the death penalty advisory referendum. "It is never OK for the government to kill someone in the name of justice," said Stacy Harbaugh, an American Civil Liberties Union spokeswoman who was at the event. 'Those in the faith communities will teach us about the importance of forgiveness and why it is more powerful than revenge.'" (TCT - 08/30/06)

Groups Unite to Fight Death Penalty - "A group titled No Death Penalty Wisconsin has formed to oppose an advisory referendum on the November ballot that gives residents a chance to say whether the state should reinstate capital punishment after 153 years." (TCT - 07/25/06)

Note:

TCT - The Capitol Times, Madison daily newspaper

WSJ - Wisconsin State Journal, Madison daily newspaper