News and Commentary

As the leading civil rights organization in the Lone Star State, we at the ACLU of Texas believe it is our duty to keep the public informed about the state of their civil liberties. The work we do at the legislature, in the courts, and in our communities is important, but there is no better defender of civil rights than a public that is informed and engaged.

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Jun 19, 2014

Internal Police Emails Show Efforts to Hide Use of Cell Phone Tracking

Free Speech and Pluralism

As we suspected, local law enforcement officials are borrowing cell...

By By Maria Kayanan, Associate Legal Director, ACLU of Florida

As we suspected, local law enforcement officials are borrowing cell...

By By Maria Kayanan, Associate Legal Director, ACLU of Florida
Jun 18, 2014

The Definition of Insanity

Last night marked the first executions in this country since the horrifically botched execution of Clayton Lockett in April.

In case you've forgotten, it took Mr. Lockett ...

By By Cassandra Stubbs, ACLU Capital Punishment Project

Last night marked the first executions in this country since the horrifically botched execution of Clayton Lockett in April.

In case you've forgotten, it took Mr. Lockett ...

By By Cassandra Stubbs, ACLU Capital Punishment Project
Jun 18, 2014

Preying on the Poor: For-Profit Probation Edition

Welcome to Alabama, the state of the never-ending seat belt ticket.

Hali Wood is 17. She's applied to work at several grocery stores in her home town of Columbiana, but none are hiring. A few months...

By By Sarah Solon, Communications Strategist, ACLU

Welcome to Alabama, the state of the never-ending seat belt ticket.

Hali Wood is 17. She's applied to work at several grocery stores in her home town of Columbiana, but none are hiring. A few months...

By By Sarah Solon, Communications Strategist, ACLU
Jun 18, 2014

The Majority Has Spoken: Email Privacy Reform Possible Right Now

Something remarkable happened last night: A bipartisan majority in the House of Representatives agreed on something.

Yesterday, Reps Reps. Ron Desantis (R-Fla.) and Cedric Richmond (D-La.) ...

By By Chris Calabrese, Legislative Counsel, ACLU Washington Legislative Office

Something remarkable happened last night: A bipartisan majority in the House of Representatives agreed on something.

Yesterday, Reps Reps. Ron Desantis (R-Fla.) and Cedric Richmond (D-La.) ...

By By Chris Calabrese, Legislative Counsel, ACLU Washington Legislative Office
Jun 18, 2014

Vee Isn't the Scariest Villain in Orange Is the New Black. This Is.

In the second season opener of Orange is the New Black, the show's heroine Piper uses her breakfast to paint a bird on the wall. A month alone in a cell the size of a parking spot has clearly...

By By Helen Vera, National Prison Project Fellow, ACLU

In the second season opener of Orange is the New Black, the show's heroine Piper uses her breakfast to paint a bird on the wall. A month alone in a cell the size of a parking spot has clearly...

By By Helen Vera, National Prison Project Fellow, ACLU
Jun 17, 2014

A Pride Month Promise – The Trans Military Ban's Days Are Numbered

By all accounts, ...

By By Ian S. Thompson, ACLU Washington Legislative Office

By all accounts, ...

By By Ian S. Thompson, ACLU Washington Legislative Office