Dallas Archive

 

 

Welcome to the ACLU of Texas Dallas Chapter

Please note: Do not send the Dallas Chapter mail concerning a legal complaint or case that you wish the ACLU to accept.

If you believe your civil liberties have been violated, please click here to request legal assistance. If you send the Dallas Chapter your complaint, whether by email or by letter, it will extend the time that it takes for your complaint to be processed.

If you wish to contact the Dallas Chapter about a matter other than a legal complaint or case that you wish the ACLU to accept, please send us a letter at the following address:

P.O. Box 703256, Dallas, TX 75370

Dallas Chapter Board
  • Anne Shuttee, President
  • Gurvinder Singh , Vice-President
  • Paul Heller, Treasurer
  • Jerry Weiss, Secretary
  • Mustafaa Carroll
  • Katie Howard
  • Chip Pitts
  • Kristine Danowski

Upcoming events

For upcoming Dallas Chapter events, please visit the Dallas Chapter's Meetup.com page

Volunteer

If you are interested in volunteering for the Dallas Chapter of the ACLU of Texas, please send us e-mail. Make sure to include what kind of work you are interested in doing. If you have a specific area in which you wish to volunteer, we will do our best to match your interests with our needs. Please see below for volunteer opportunities available through the Dallas Chapter. Each is a great way to stand up for civil rights and civil liberties - and to meet and work with other people who are committed to these values. And you won't be alone - this is a team effort.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Host a "Freedom Files" video event!
The "Freedom Files" are great ways to raise consciousness on civil rights/civil liberties issues. These "events in a box" feature short documentaries on issues such as the rights of immigrants, the death penalty, surveillance and privacy, same-sex couples, protecting the ballot and voting rights, GLBT families, sex education, torture and unlawful imprisonment, and religious freedom. For more details about these films, see aclu.tv.

Each film is 25 minutes long and accompanied by an "organizer's toolkit" that includes a publicity poster that you can download and use to publicize the event as well as talking points to focus discussion about the issues presented in the film. If you want to host a "Freedom Files" event, you need only to pick a venue (such as a library conference room, other public space, or even your own living room), publicize the event, and play the DVD that we will provide to you without charge!o Would you like to host the next Freedom Files event - maybe in your neighborhood?

Help staff an ACLU table at a local event
Let us know if you hear of an event organized by another like-minded organization at which we might staff a table with ACLU literature and brochures! This is one of the simplest and easiest ways for us to reach out to people who are not familiar with the ACLU and its mission. Would you like to help us staff an ACLU table at an upcoming event organized by another like-minded group?

Help hold a "Know your Rights" event for local students!
How often have you heard students ask about how far school authorities can go in restricting their freedoms? Speakers from the Dallas Chapter of the Texas ACLU can help educate junior high and high school students about their civil rights and civil liberties. Would you like to help us organize a "Know Your Rights" event for local students?

Serve as an ACLU liaison to local elected officials on Civil Rights/Civil Liberties issues
Contacting and developing relationships with our local representatives is very important to effective local advocacy. By establishing these lines of communication, we can learn where our elected representatives stand on important civil rights/civil liberties issues and share with them the ACLU's views on those issues.

We want to create a team of people to serve as the Dallas Chapter's liaisons to the offices of our local representatives (such as Mayors, City Council representatives, County executives, State representatives, State senators, members of Congress). Members of the team will need to learn about and be prepared to discuss key civil rights/civil liberties issues with legislators or their staff members, and available at least occasionally to visit representatives' offices during business hours. Would you like to join our local advocacy team?

You can help us look into and take action on local civil rights/civil liberties issues!
Events raising important civil rights and civil liberties issues happen locally as well as nationally, and when they occur in the Dallas area we have opportunities for volunteers to help the Dallas Chapter find out what is going on so that we can take appropriate action (such as letters, meetings, protests, etc.). These opportunities can include talking to knowledgeable people, filing freedom of information requests or serving as a observer. Would you like to help us assess and act on local civil rights/civil liberties issues?

Help the Dallas Chapter stay organized!
Volunteers with administrative skills can help us "behind the scenes" with such tasks as keeping our website calendar up to date, locating venues for possible events and meetings, processing incoming mail, helping to organize and coordinate volunteer activities, and organizing Chapter educational and social events. Would you like to help us handle administrative tasks?

We welcome additional ideas on how members can volunteer to help the Dallas Chapter of the ACLU of Texas - and we will circulate information about other volunteer opportunities as they arise. You don't have to belong to the ACLU of Texas to volunteer, but please get to know us and if you like what we do, please consider joining.

Thank you for your support of the Dallas Chapter of the ACLU of Texas.

ACLU of Texas Concerned Ordinance Passed by Irving City Council Unconstitutional
Today, the ACLU of Texas calls on the City of Irving to repeal regulations passed Thursday night in the name of “cleaning up crime” when in fact they can only be interpreted as an attack on the privacy of landlords, renters and low-income families. Read More...

Dallas Chapter Newsletter
January 2006 Newsletter Read More...

FROM THE LIBERTY BLOG: Separation of church and state protects religious liberty
"Noting that America's tradition of separation of church and state protects both religion and government, ACLU of Texas board member Madan Goyal of Plano wrote an opinion piece for the Dallas Morning News, online here..."

Four Texas cities pass resolutions opposed to the Patriot Act
Resolutions have been passed in 4 communities in Texas, and 385 more nationwide. These communities represent approximately 62 million people who oppose sections of the USA PATRIOT Act. Read More...