From the Executive Director, Sue Armstrong

From the Executive Director's Desk
Sue Armstrong

Sue Armstrong
Colorado courts recently handed down two particularly important decisions. In this edition you will read about the "Tattered Cover" decision by the Colorado Supreme Court upholding the rights of readers and independent booksellers. ACLU of Colorado is indebted to Bruce Jones, cooperating attorney for ACLU Foundation of Colorado, for submitting an amicus brief on behalf of Joyce Meskis and the Tattered Cover.

In another case brought by ACLU Foundation of Colorado, the National ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project and Planned Parenthood in 1998, the court recently ruled in our clients' behalf accepting the argument that current statute requiring physicians to notify a minor's parents and then wait 48 hours before proceeding with an abortion is unconstitutional and endangers the health and lives of young women. This decision is critical to the health and well-being of young women... many of whom do NOT have understanding, supportive parents; many of whom were raped by a close friend of the family or family member. We are grateful to Tim Atkeson for his work as cooperating attorney for ACLU Foundation of Colorado.

Litigation is the very heart of our work. Raising public awareness of the necessity of protecting civil rights is also a critical part of our work. Volunteers throughout Colorado are doing this. Through speaking engagements at schools, civic groups, churches and a wide variety of other settings; through ACLU-sponsored community forums, continuing legal educational seminars; and through a variety of media outlets, ACLU members are engaging their respective communities in essential dialogue about the importance of civil liberties.

Colorado Springs/El Paso County Chapter members are planning "Monday Night Think Tanks" at the Warehouse for the first and third Mondays of every month. Boulder County Chapter has publicly challenged the use of photo radar based on privacy issues. They publicly stood by a student advocating for his legitimate First Amendment political speech. Weld County Chapter continues to challenge government officials about racial profiling practices.

In this time of national assault on our civil liberties, ACLUer's are fighting the good fight - protecting that which we cherish. We can all be proud to be a part of this noble venture.

Sue Armstrong