News
News Releases 2003

Dec 12, 2003 - Students Sue Colorado Springs High School for Blocking Gay/Straight Alliance
Attorneys for the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado (ACLU) filed suit today in federal district court on behalf of a group of students at Palmer High School in Colorado Springs who challenge their school’s refusal to recognize their student club, the Palmer High Gay/Straight Alliance.

Nov 13, 2003 - ACLU of Colorado Names Cathryn Hazouri as Executive Director
The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Colorado (ACLU) announced today that it has named Cathryn Hazouri as its Executive Director. Ms. Hazouri will lead the ACLU of Colorado during a critical time in which core civil liberties are threatened.

Oct 15, 2003 - ACLU Sues Denver Seeking Disclosure of Document Describing Police Department's Relationship with FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force
Relying on the Colorado Open Records Act, the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado (ACLU) filed suit today against the City and County of Denver, seeking disclosure of a document that sets out the terms of the Denver Police Department's participation in the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF).

Aug 15, 2003 - ACLU Wins First Stage in Court: Students and Teachers Cannot Be Forced to Recite Pledge of Allegiance
On August 15, 2003, the Honorable Lewis Babcock, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, granted the ACLU's request for a temporary restraining order (TRO) barring the State of Colorado and four local school districts from enforcing Colorado's mandatory Pledge of Allegiance law. Judge Babcock found that the law, which required all public school students and teachers to recite the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of every school day, was very likely to be found in violation of the Constitution.

Aug 12, 2003 - ACLU Challenges Colorado Law Requiring Teachers and Students to Recite the Pledge of Allegiance
The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Colorado (ACLU) filed suit today in federal district court in Denver challenging the constitutionality of the new Colorado statute requiring teachers and students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance each day in all Colorado public schools.

Aug 5, 2003 - Congressman Barney Frank to Keynote ACLU's 2003 Whitehead Dinner
U.S. Congressman Barney Frank will be the keynote speaker at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Colorado's annual Carle Whitehead Memorial Award Dinner on Saturday, September 20, 2003, at the Westin Tabor Center in downtown Denver, 1672 Lawrence Street.

Aug 5, 2003 - ACLU to Honor Jaren Ducker With Whitehead Award
Long-time Denver civil liberties advocate Jaren Ducker will be honored at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Colorado's Carle Whitehead Memorial Dinner September 20, 2003, at the Westin Tabor Center in downtown Denver, 1672 Lawrence Street.

Apr 17, 2003 - ACLU and Denver Officials Agree to Resolve Lawsuit over Denver Police Spy Files
The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Colorado (ACLU) announced a settlement today of its landmark lawsuit challenging the Denver Police Department’s practice of monitoring and recording the peaceful protest activities of Denver-area residents and keeping criminal intelligence files on the expressive activities of law-abiding advocacy groups, some of which were falsely labeled as “criminal extremist.”

Apr 15, 2003 - Alamosa Business Owner may Resume Displaying American Flag Upside Down to Express his Views on Iraq War
The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Colorado (ACLU) announced today that as a result of an agreement with Alamosa city officials, an Alamosa business owner may resume displaying an American flag upside-down in his store window to express his views on the war in Iraq.

Apr 1, 2003 - Court Orders Temporary Halt to Medicaid Cutoffs in ACLU Suit on Behalf of Legal Immigrants
Granting an emergency motion filed by lawyers for the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Colorado (ACLU), a federal court judge issued an order late this afternoon that temporarily stops the State of Colorado from cutting Medicaid medical assistance benefits to approximately 3500 legal immigrants in Colorado who cannot afford to pay for their own medical care.

Mar 27, 2003 - ACLU Sues to Stop Colorado's Planned April 1 Cutoff of Medical Assistance to Legal Immigrants
The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Colorado (ACLU) announced today the filing of a class action lawsuit in federal court to challenge Senate Bill 176, a new Colorado law that cuts off medical assistance to about 3500 legal immigrants who are currently covered and who cannot afford to pay for their own medical care. The suit asks the Court to invalidate the law and to issue an emergency temporary restraining order before thousands of class members lose their medical assistance on April 1.

Feb 12, 2003 - Colorado ACLU Echoes for Stop to Attorney General's Assault on Civil Liberties
In a recent announcement, the American Civil Liberties Union warned against the likely ineffectiveness of and danger to average Americans posed by the vast cyber-surveillance system known as Total Information Awareness (TIA). "The Pentagon's plan for the most extensive data surveillance network in history will have real effects on real Americans," Katie Corrigan, ACLU Legislative Counsel told a nationwide teleconference with reporters and editors. "It will place millions of innocent Americans under government scrutiny in an epidemic of privacy invasion."

Jan 22, 2003 - Denver Police Planned on Air Force Help in Gathering Information for Spy Files
The Denver Police Department planned to receive intelligence information from the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI) about the identities and activities of participants in a peaceful demonstration outside Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs in 1999, according to a document from the Denver Police Spy Files released today by the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Colorado (ACLU).

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