What makes the aclu influential

The main difference, Romero insisted, was the scale. Within the A. The two men had once been close allies—Glasser had first suggested Romero, then an executive with the Ford Foundation, as a candidate to replace him.

But the two had fallen out during the Bush Administration, when Romero was challenged by a faction of the A. When I called Glasser, he said that he had been watching the A. To Glasser, the idea that the organization would spend money to tell voters that one candidate for political office would defend civil liberties and the other would erode them fundamentally misunderstood the relationship between civil liberties and political power.

Often, the fights had been against politicians who professed to believe in the same values the organization stood for. There was no greater progressive than President Franklin Roosevelt, Glasser said, and yet Roosevelt had interned Japanese-American citizens.

The N. The liberal view is often that, if only the right people get in power, good things will happen. Glasser believes that this view is wrong, that the problem is always power itself. Glasser had been an official at the N. Back then, he said, the A. To defend itself, the A. For example, many religious groups oppose the ACLU because it actively works to maintain the separation of church and state. These efforts gain extra attention every December when they speak out against religious displays and nativity scenes on government property.

In recent years, this has turned into a backlash against a perceived "War on Christmas. He has written several books on the ACLU, and has praised it at times for fighting for the civil liberties of Catholics. Conversely, Donohue has stated that the ACLU's defense of freedom of speech has led to civil disorder as well as expensive and unnecessary social service programs [ ref ].

Criticism of the ACLU also stems from the feeling that some civil liberties should be restricted in favor of security, especially in times of war or crisis. Considering the origins of the ACLU, it is unlikely that it would ever agree with such a position. The ACLU's collection of attorneys' fees also concerns some critics.

If the ACLU wins a case argued by one if its attorneys, it can sue for recovery of attorneys' fees. Government officials, agencies and institutions are often immune to this sort of recovery, but not always it depends on the applicable laws and the nature of the civil rights violation.

These fees can be very costly, often reaching six figures. Some claim that the ACLU uses these fees as a form of intimidation, forcing municipalities to do what it says for fear of paying tremendous fees [ ref ].

Some see this as a case of government money "tax-payer dollars" indirectly funding the ACLU. However, other legal aid organizations sue to collect attorneys' fees as well. Regardless of its critics, the ACLU isn't likely to go anywhere -- it's been one of the most active and controversial legal aid organizations of the past 80 years. Whether they agree or disagree with its policies, the ACLU's actions have encouraged many Americans to closely consider the rights granted them by the Constitution.

Conservatives often attack liberal politicians by labeling them "card-carrying members of the ACLU. So would Stalin. Castro probably is. What is the origin of this insult?

It probably stems from the presidential campaign, when Michael Dukakis referred to himself as "a card carrying member of the ACLU" in an interview with The New Yorker [ ref ].

His opponent, George H. Bush, used the statement to illustrate that Dukakis was more liberal than mainstream America. It has been used to criticize liberal politicians ever since. For its part, the ACLU has turned the phrase into a slogan. The member Web site offers people the chance to "become a card-carrying member. Sign up for our Newsletter! Mobile Newsletter banner close. Mobile Newsletter chat close. Mobile Newsletter chat dots.

Mobile Newsletter chat avatar. Mobile Newsletter chat subscribe. Photo courtesy U. National Archives. The mission of the ACLU is to preserve all of these protections and guarantees: Your First Amendment rights -- freedom of speech, association and assembly. Freedom of the press and freedom of religion supported by the strict separation of church and state. Your right to equal protection under the law -- equal treatment regardless of race, sex, religion or national origin.

Your right to due process -- fair treatment by the government whenever the loss of your liberty or property is at stake. Your right to privacy -- freedom from unwarranted government intrusion into your personal and private affairs. We work also to extend rights to segments of our population that have traditionally been denied their rights, including Native Americans and other people of color; lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgendered people; women; mental-health patients; prisoners; people with disabilities; and the poor.

ACLU History " ". Photo courtesy Marxists. The ACLU defended one group's right to pledge to the red flag and another's right not to pledge to the U. Supreme Court that allowed labor unions the ability to organize. The ACLU has a long history of supporting an expanded interpretation of rights for accused defendants and lighter sentencing laws for convicts. Supreme Court cases that made it harder for the police to gather evidence during criminal investigations, and was criticized for expanding the rights of criminals.

In then-Vice President George H. The ACLU defended John Scopes in a case that sought to overturn a requirement that human evolution not be taught in public schools. Supreme Court to declare religious teaching in state governed schools unconstitutional. The ACLU has supported the right of schoolchildren not to salute the American flag when it violates their religious beliefs. The ACLU has frequently opposed national security policies. The ACLU has consistently argued for the closure of the Guantanamo Bay terrorist detention facility [64] and has fought to make sure terrorists are tried in civilian court.

The ACLU has defended a number of accused terrorists, their domestic abettors, and their financiers. Numerous organizations have declared the ACLU the leader of the liberal opposition to the Republican-led federal government and the organization has spent millions of dollars in political expenditures against right-wing policies.

The ACLU argues that due to inadequate federal programs and spending along with tough on crime police policies, black and indigenous people have not overcome the impacts of slavery and land revocation that took place hundreds of years ago.

In our first year, we fought the harassment and deportation of immigrants whose activism put them at odds with the authorities. In , we won in the Supreme Court the right for unions to organize. And at times in our history when frightened civilians have been willing to give up some of their freedoms and rights in the name of national security, the ACLU has been the bulwark for liberty. We do not defend them because we agree with them.

Rather we defend their right to free expression and free assembly. Historically, the people whose opinions are the most controversial or extreme are the people whose rights are most often threatened.