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.

Filter News
Nov 14, 2014

Texas Wants to Kill This Mentally Ill Man

Wearing a cowboy costume and a purple bandana, Scott Panetti defended himself at his...

By By Cassandra Stubbs, Director, ACLU Capital Punishment Project

Wearing a cowboy costume and a purple bandana, Scott Panetti defended himself at his...

By By Cassandra Stubbs, Director, ACLU Capital Punishment Project
Nov 13, 2014

Americans' Confidence in Privacy of Electronic Communications is Very Low

Free Speech and Pluralism

Pew has a new poll out on Americans’ attitudes toward privacy, and it is full of interesting findings. A New York Times blog...

By By Jay Stanley, Senior Policy Analyst, ACLU Speech, Privacy & Technology Project

Pew has a new poll out on Americans’ attitudes toward privacy, and it is full of interesting findings. A New York Times blog...

By By Jay Stanley, Senior Policy Analyst, ACLU Speech, Privacy & Technology Project
Nov 12, 2014

Stalling on Surveillance Reform Could Cost the GOP

NSA reform could be the thorn in the side of the Republican Party next year.

Right now, there is a viable, bipartisan bill called the ...

By By Neema Singh Guliani, ACLU Legislative Counsel

NSA reform could be the thorn in the side of the Republican Party next year.

Right now, there is a viable, bipartisan bill called the ...

By By Neema Singh Guliani, ACLU Legislative Counsel
Nov 12, 2014

The Army Is Making Me Choose Between My Faith and My Country

All my life, I've dreamed of serving my country.

But when I tried to enlist in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program at Hofstra University, I was told I couldn't because of my religious...

By By Iknoor Singh

All my life, I've dreamed of serving my country.

But when I tried to enlist in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program at Hofstra University, I was told I couldn't because of my religious...

By By Iknoor Singh
Nov 11, 2014

THE SHADOW OF A DOUBT Circles Liberty’s Torch

Today, on Veterans Day, on the 11th day of the 11th month, an aircraft began circling the Statue of Liberty trailing a banner that read “THE SHADOW OF A DOUBT.”

The phrase refers to an...

By By David Birkin

Today, on Veterans Day, on the 11th day of the 11th month, an aircraft began circling the Statue of Liberty trailing a banner that read “THE SHADOW OF A DOUBT.”

The phrase refers to an...

By By David Birkin