News & Commentary

On December 15, 2011, the ACLU of Oregon sent a letter to the superintendent of Reedsport School District, informing him of the problems at Highland Elementary School and reminding him that coercing students to participate in the Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional. Since 1943, the law has been clear that public school students cannot be forced to recite or otherwise participate in the Pledge of Allegiance against their will. In the case West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, the Supreme Court found that the right to remain silent during the Pledge of Allegiance stems from the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. Just as the First Amendment protects our right to express our beliefs, it prohibits the government from compelling us to declare a belief that we do not hold. As the Barnette court wrote, “If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein.” Oregon law also explicitly recognizes the right to not participate in the Pledge of Allegiance. Shortly after receiving the AC

January 24, 2012

By Claire Syrett, Field Director

The first 10 amendments to the United States Constitution, which became known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791. These amendments were designed to limit the government’s ability to infringe on individual liberty. Today’s celebration will mark their 220th anniversary.

By Sarah Armstrong, Outreach Coordinator

This month ACLU of Oregon celebrates the anniversary of Ruth Bader Ginsberg’s appointment to the United States Supreme Court while noting with sadness the passing of Betty Roberts, the first woman to be appointed to the Oregon Supreme Court. These two remarkable women have contributed to the betterment of our Nation and State by speaking out for those who have been and are currently being denied basic civil rights. Ruth Bader Ginsberg was sworn into the United States Supreme Court on August 10th, 1994, becoming the second woman ever to achieve such a position.  A true pioneer for the rights of women, she argued a remarkable six cases (winning five) before the Supreme Court between 1973 and 1976. A fact that many people don’t know about Justice Ginsberg is that she was an ACLU attorney during this period of great achievement and helped found the ACLU’s Women’s Rights Project (WRP). Armed with the words of the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause, Ginsberg fought to dissolve the artificial barriers of gender by tackling a series of serious gender discrimination issues. She served as ACLU general counsel from 1973-1980, and was on the National ACLU Board of Directors from 1974-1980.

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April 27, 2011 – The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) has agreed to annually release student discipline data, broken out by race, starting in 2012.

April 21, 2011 - Roseburg, OR – After an ACLU volunteer attorney contacted County Counsel Tuesday and County Commissioners heard testimony from upset pipeline opponents Wednesday, Douglas County ch