ACLU of Oregon
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ACLU of Oregon Headlines
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The ACLU of Oregon is seeking applicants for Legal Director, Campaign Director and Communications Intern.
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UPCOMING ACLU OF OREGON EVENTS
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May 17, in Portland: Annual Membership Meeting, "Privacy and Technology: What Are We Giving Away" -- Find Out More -
May 17, in Portland: House concert featuring Hawaiian slack-key guitarist Makana -- Buy Tickets Online -
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Student Athletes Prevail in Religious Discrimination Case Against OSAA
Oregon Supreme Court Upholds Court of Appeals Decision, Forces State Board of Education to Reconsider the Case
May 8, 2008 -- The Oregon Supreme Court today dismissed the Oregon School Activities Association’s arguments that it would face “undue hardship” in accommodating the religious beliefs of basketball players from Portland Adventist Academy. Today’s ruling follows two previous Court of Appeals rulings that sided with the ACLU of Oregon and the Portland Adventist student athletes. Read More
CENSORSHIP
Booksellers, Publishers, Librarians and Others Challenge Censorship Law
Under New Law, Many Risk Charges for ‘Furnishing’ Legitimate Literature, Art and Sex Education Materials to Minors
April 28, 2008 -- Should a grandmother have to risk being charged with a crime if she gives her 7-year-old grandson a copy of “It’s Perfectly Normal,” a sex education book widely regarded as among the best available? Under a new Oregon law (ORS 167.054), that grandmother could be charged with providing materials that are “sexually explicit” to a minor. And under that and a second new law (ORS 167.057), booksellers, librarians, community-based organizations, health-care providers, parents and other family members also are at risk, potentially facing jail time and hefty fines up to $125,000. The ACLU of Oregon is challenging the new laws as unconstitutional. Read More
OREGON PRIMARY ELECTION
ACLU Takes Neutral Stance on Three Ballot Measures
April 22, 2008 -- The ACLU of Oregon has taken a neutral stance on three ballot measures referred by the 2007 Legislature that have civil liberties implications. Ballot Measures 51 and 52 would amend constitutional provisions in the Oregon Bill of Rights that provide specific rights to victims in criminal proceedings. Ballot Measure 53 would modify Ballot Measure 3 (2000), a constitutional amendment that we helped write and which reformed the civil forfeiture process in Oregon. Read More
 MEMBERSHIP MEETING: May 17
Privacy & Technology: How Much Are We Giving Away?
April 10, 2008 -- The ACLU of Oregon’s Annual Membership Meeting is set for 1-3 p.m. Saturday, May 17, at the Armory, 128 NW 11th Ave., Portland. A panel of experts will discuss the growing number of privacy issues as technology advances from the risk of identity theft through insecure databases to the ready access of personal information through social networking sites. Read More
PATRIOT ACT
ACLU of Oregon Urges Appeals Court to Reject Patriot Act Search-and-Surveillance Provisions
March 17, 2008 The ACLU of Oregon filed a friend-of-the-court brief today urging a federal appeals court to affirm a lower court’s decision to strike down two search-and-surveillance provisions of the Patriot Act as unconstitutional. The case was brought by Oregon lawyer Brandon Mayfield against the federal government after the FBI mistakenly linked him to the Madrid train bombings in 2004. The lower court found that secret searches of Mayfield's house and office violated the Fourth Amendment's guarantee against unreasonable search and seizure.
Read the press release (Word document)
Read the amicus brief (PDF)
DRIVER LICENSES
ACLU Disappointed in Passage of Senate Bill 1080
February 2008 -- Last fall, Gov. Kulongoski issued an executive order requiring DMV to rewrite its rules limiting what types of documents are needed to obtain a driver license or identification card. The order said that people who cannot prove that they are lawfully present in this country cannot obtain a driver license. This month, both houses of the Oregon legislature passed similar legislation, and the governor signed it into law.
ACLU opposes both the new DMV rules and the legislation (SB 1080). The purpose of driver licenses is to ensure that people know the rules of the road and are insured. The result of restricting who can get a license will make our roads less safe. In addition, the rules and legislation will make it difficult for many citizens to obtain a driver license or identification card, particularly the most vulnerable members of our society, those who are elderly, low-income, homeless, victims of domestic violence, dealing with mental health or disability issues.
Read More:
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Top Issues
House Concert!
Photo by Chris Voelker
Mark your calendars for May 17th. That's when Hawaiian slack-key guitarist Makana will offer a live concert at the Portland home of ACLU supporters Val and Will Aitchison. Find out more (and buy tickets online)
Web Special
Garrett Epps, Orlando John & Marian H. Hollis Professor of Law at the University of Oregon School of School, spoke to the Lane County Chapter of the ACLU of Oregon at its Annual Meeting on Feb. 24, 2008. Download a PDF copy of his remarks.
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