Four brave volunteers helped first and second graders at Thornton's Woodglen Elementary celebrate Constitution Day. The ACLU teamed with the Center for Education on Law & Democracy to help young children understand the purpose and meaning of a constitution. This program uses a short movie and role-playing to teach kids what it means for people to agree to rules that help them all live together.Check out photos of the event--cute kids learning--on our Flickr page.

Interested in bringing this program to your child's school? Fill out the Speaker's Bureau form on our website.

When Mike Mahaney tired of taggers defacing his property he commissioned an artist to paint murals on the two walls of his Englewood smoking accessory shop, Headed West. City officials decided that was a criminal act. ACLU of Colorado cooperating attorney Bill Kyriagis spoke about our ongoing case against the City of Englewood's sign code. The event was hosted by The Other Side Arts Gallery, which had a mural problem of its own last year. The day before the DNC, Denver cops decided that this mural, contained "anarchist messages." They prompted called in a busload of spray gun and paint-roller wielding cops to paint over the gallery's mural--without ever asking permission or talking to the property owner. Oops. Read Westword's account of the incident here. See pics from the event on Flickr.

Vote NO on Denver's Impound Initiative
It's now official: this November, voting Denverites will find Initiative 300 on their ballots. If passed, Initiative 300 will require Denver police to tow and impound a vehicle whenever 1) the driver does not have a current and valid license, or 2) when police "reasonably suspect" that the driver is an "illegal alien."

The towing is mandatory even if the car's owner is present, has a valid license, and can legally drive the car to a safe spot. After the tow, the car's owner can retrieve the car only by paying several hundred dollars in fees and posting a $2500 bond which Denver keeps for a year and is forfeited if an unlicensed driver is caught driving the vehicle during that year.

This measure encourages racial profiling, authorizes unreasonable and warrantless seizures, and threatens to deprive innocent owners of their vehicles without due process of law.

The ACLU urges its members in Denver to vote "no" on Initiative 300, and we aren't the only group that thinks this is a bad idea:
Visit the Vote No On Impound website

Colorado Springs Chapter: Fall Forum
When: Tuesday, September 29, 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Where: Gill Foundation, 315 Costilla St., Colorado Springs

You're invited to attend a panel discussion featuring Ann Kaufmann, Barry Noreen, and Tom Menza, moderated by Bill Durland. Panelists will discuss "proof by profile" and trial avoidance in sex offenses, domestic violence, and related due process issues. This event is FREE and open to the public. Drinks and hors d'oeuvres will be served.Questions? Contact Loring Wirbel at lwirbel@aol.com or call 303.777.5482 x100.

Boulder County Chapter: Garden Party
When: Sunday, October 4, 4:00 – 6:00 pm
Where: Gordon Gamm's house, 6609 Baseline Rd., Boulder
Hear special guest speaker Senator Pat Steadman (D-Dist. 31-Denver)
Senator Steadman is the former lobbyist for the ACLU and was recently appointed to the Colorado Senate. He will discuss civil liberties issues in the 2010 legislative session. Enjoy Live Jazz with Bryan Pearce and David Rothman. Meet ACLU of Colorado staff and supporters. Enjoy delicious light fare and drinks while seeing old friends and making new ones. Suggested donation: $10 (or more) per person. Questions? Contact Chapter Chair
Judd Golden, 303.442.6355, or by email: juddgolden@hotmail.com

Carle Whitehead Memorial Dinner & Silent Auction
When: Saturday, October 17, 5:00 – 9:00 pm
Where: City Center Marriott, 18th & California, Denver
Join us for our annual awards dinner and silent auction. This year we're honoring Congresswoman Diana DeGette for her work securing reproductive rights for all women, her efforts to ensure that stem cell research is funded in the U.S and her support of the rights of everyone to marry. We're also presenting the Edward Sherman Award to attorneys Steve Zansberg and Chris Beall for their work defending free speech during the 2008 Democratic National Convention. Tickets are $200 per person.1 FREE CLE credit available. Want to attend? Contact Tilman Adair. tadair@aclu-co.org. Want to donate an item for our Silent Auction? Get in touch with Caryn, costerman@aclu-co.org.