March 2, 2015
DENVER – Next Monday, the State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee of the Colorado House of Representatives will consider House Bills 1161 and 1171, two right-to-discriminate bills that would let individuals and businesses claim their religious beliefs allow them to refuse to follow laws they don’t like – including domestic violence, public safety, and nondiscrimination laws.
In response, a coalition of Colorado business owners, faith leaders, and community groups will gather for a press conference before the hearing at 12:30 p.m. in the West Foyer of the Colorado State Capitol. Speakers will urge members of the committee to oppose both bills and to send a clear message that religious freedom is important, that it’s already protected by the First Amendment in our Constitution, and that we can’t just let people pick and choose which laws they want to follow.
Due to the sweeping nature of bills like these, which are ripe for abuse and have already led to lawsuits across the country at taxpayers’ expense, a number of community groups and individuals have announced their opposition to HB 1161 and 1171 – including the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Anti-Defamation League (Mountain States Region), Colorado Women’s Bar Association, Plaintiff Employment Lawyers Association, and former Deputy District Attorney Michael Carrigan, to name a few.
WHAT: Press conference opposing right-to-discriminate bills, HB 1161 and 1171
WHEN: Next Monday, March 9, 2015 at 12:30 p.m.
WHERE: West Foyer of the Colorado State Capitol
WHO: Former Deputy District Attorney Michael Carrigan Denver area business owners Keo Frazier and Andrew Feinstein Local faith leader Rev. Brian Rossbert Women's health and other community representatives

February 27, 2015
DENVER – The Fort Collins City Council voted this afternoon to repeal provisions of an anti-panhandling ordinance that is currently being challenged as unconstitutional by an ACLU of Colorado class action lawsuit.

ACLU of Colorado Legal Director Mark Silverstein issued the following statement:

“The City of Fort Collins has taken a positive and welcome first step by repealing the provisions of its panhandling ordinance that have been challenged by the ACLU and our clients, who engage in nonthreatening, nonaggressive requests for charity that are fully protected by the First Amendment.  We hope that today’s repeal means that they and all other peaceful solicitors will no longer be targeted by Fort Collins police.  Fort Collins can still rely on the provisions of the ordinance that we did not challenge to address truly aggressive solicitation without stifling free speech rights.
“If Fort Collins would agree to make today’s repeal permanent, we could be well on our way to resolving this litigation and putting it behind us. Fort Collins, however, has described today’s repeal as a temporary measure and has signaled that the repealed provisions may well be reenacted.  The repealed provisions violate the First Amendment, and their repeal should be permanent, not temporary.”

February 17, 2015
Statement of the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado

“The American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado applauds Denver Police Chief Robert White and the officers in command during last Saturday’s protest for keeping the peace and not intervening in a way that might have caused the situation to escalate or become violent after two individuals illegally vandalized a police memorial.
“The ACLU of Colorado does not condone vandalism.  We advocate for peaceful forms of demonstration that do not break the law.  By all accounts, the vast majority of the protesters present at the demonstration exercised their free speech rights peacefully.  When two individuals did break the law, rather than jeopardize the safety of the officers on duty and the crowd of law-abiding protesters, police did not intervene and waited until after the demonstration to make an arrest.
“In April 2012, the ACLU of Colorado wrote to Chief White to request a review of department policies and procedures relating to use of force and crowd management after an attempt by police to take down a tent during an Occupy Denver demonstration provoked an unnecessary violent confrontation, resulting in the use of pepper ball guns and batons against law-abiding demonstrators.
“In this instance, we commend Chief White and the commanding officers for exercising restraint and not escalating the situation.  A public show of aggression by police at that moment would not only have risked the safety of all who were present, it would have further denigrated the already damaged trust between the public and law enforcement.”
Resources:

April 2012 Letter from ACLU of Colorado to Chief White: http://static.aclu-co.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/OIM.Rich_.4.12.2012.complaint.Website.pdf

Know Your Rights for Protests and Demonstrations: http://static.aclu-co.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Protests.pdf